Compare towns
Saco vs Hampton Beach vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the highest household income ($92k).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
2,605Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Saco and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Brunswick and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | — | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.