Compare towns

Gorham vs Brunswick vs Hampden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Brunswick has the most renters (28.8% rent).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureGorhamBrunswickHampden
People
Population
18,300
22,336Highest
7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+7.3%
ME: +2.6%
+6.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
39.4±2.9Lowest
12% below ME
40±2.8
11% below ME
41±2.9Highest
8% below ME
Hampden and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±3.5
ME: 18.1%
17.2%±2.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
25.8%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
Hampden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.5%±2.5
ME: 22.4%
22.9%±2.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
53.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
45.9%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.1%±1.9
ME: 5.8%
13.3%±1.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±2.3Lowest
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
$112,312±$6kHighest
50% above ME
$74,952±$6kLowest
about the ME average
$111,959±$13k
50% above ME
Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$460,900±$26kHighest
55% above ME
$376,300±$15k
27% above ME
$301,300±$38kLowest
about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,680±$355Highest
47% above ME
$1,469±$99
29% above ME
$1,286±$317Lowest
13% 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
$4,825Highest
59% above ME
$4,756
57% above ME
$3,694Lowest
22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±8.6
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±8.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line
3.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
7.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
7.5%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%
ME: 74.3%
71.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
85.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
10% above ME
23 min
5% below ME
23 minLowest
7% below ME
Work from home
19%±3.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
19.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
21.3%±5.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
Hampden 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 #24 of 133 in ME #30 of 133 in ME #6 of 133 in ME
School district Gorham Public Schools Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 RSU 22
High school in town Gorham High School Brunswick High School Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
10.9Lowest
14.8Highest
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.