Compare towns
Saco vs Dedham 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%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Dedham | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
1,656Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
| Dedham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Brunswick and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5% ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
| Dedham 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 |
$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME |
$376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
| Brunswick and Dedham 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 |
$3,942Lowest 30% above ME |
$4,756 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest 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% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick and Saco 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 | — | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Dedham 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 | 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.