Compare towns

Brunswick vs Worcester vs Harpswell

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has the most kids (17.2% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).

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.

MeasureBrunswickWorcesterHarpswell
People
Population
22,336Highest
831Lowest
5,046
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40±2.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
62±1.5Highest
59% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
8.8%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brunswick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
38.6%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.3%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,952±$6k
7% below U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$96,250±$15kHighest
19% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$15k
13% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$609,700±$60kHighest
83% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$99Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,348±$53
5% below U.S.
Brunswick and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,756Highest
52% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$3,141Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
24.9%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brunswick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
11% below U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.7%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Harpswell 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 — —
School district Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town Brunswick High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.