Compare towns
Brunswick vs Topsham vs Saco vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Brunswick | Topsham | Saco | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
9,706Lowest |
20,819 |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 11% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
| Saco and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brunswick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 29% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
| Gorham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756 57% above ME |
$4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 5% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Saco Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.2 |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.