Compare towns
Saco vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
9,292Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Saco and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Brunswick 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%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% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$74,952±$6k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$376,300±$15k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,756 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 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 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Putnam School District | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.