Compare towns
Saco vs Sturbridge 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%).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Sturbridge | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
9,960Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brunswick and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% 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 | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #89 of 282 in MA | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
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.