Compare towns
Harpswell vs South Eliot 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).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Brunswick has the youngest population (median age 40).
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 | South Eliot | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
4,203Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
55.5±8 24% above ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
| Harpswell and South Eliot 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% |
15.2%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brunswick and South Eliot 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% |
32.8%±6.8 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and South Eliot 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% |
49.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
$99,299±$9kHighest 33% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
| South Eliot and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$475,600±$52k 60% above ME |
$376,300±$15kLowest 27% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Lowest 18% above ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,469±$99 29% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
$4,442 46% above ME |
$4,756Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8 ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest 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.