Compare towns
Durham vs Saco vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Saco | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Lowest |
20,819 |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
40±2.8 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Durham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Brunswick and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brunswick and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Saco Public Schools | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 51 photos → | 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.