Compare towns
Brunswick vs Topsham vs Wayne
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 youngest population (median age 40).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
9,706 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Topsham 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% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15kHighest 27% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
| Brunswick and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
| Brunswick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756Highest 57% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
$3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 5% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Brunswick 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 | — |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.