Compare towns
Saco vs Stratham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Saco | Stratham | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
7,754Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Saco and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brunswick and Stratham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,469±$99 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | 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 Our Story | 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.