Compare towns
Lyman vs Brunswick vs Alfred
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Alfred has the most affordable homes ($342k 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.
| Measure | Lyman | Brunswick | Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612 |
22,336Highest |
3,125Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Alfred and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
$376,300±$15kHighest 27% above ME |
$342,300±$38kLowest 15% above ME |
| Brunswick and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522 7% below ME |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
$1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME |
| Brunswick and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
$4,756Highest 57% above ME |
$3,543 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8 ME: 48.4% |
82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick and Lyman 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME | #74 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brunswick High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.