Compare towns
Saco vs Bristol vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).
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 | Saco | Bristol | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
2,917Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.7% ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
| Bristol and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
$376,300±$15kLowest 27% above ME |
| Saco and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$4,756 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% below ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #16 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Bristol Public Schools | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.