Compare towns
Harpswell vs Boothbay vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 min average).
Brunswick has the most kids (17.2% 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.
| Measure | Harpswell | Boothbay | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
3,102Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
56.8±3.9 27% above ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
| Harpswell and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brunswick and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
35.4%±7.8 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% ME: 36.2% |
51.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15kHighest 29% above ME |
$60,320±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
$74,952±$6k about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$342,100±$43kLowest 15% above ME |
$376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53 18% above ME |
$1,147±$121Lowest about the ME average |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
| Brunswick and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 3% above ME |
$2,202Lowest 27% below ME |
$4,756Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.4%±31 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.4% ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell 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 |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.