What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Portland has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Brunswick has the most homeowners (71.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Portland	Brunswick
People
Population	26,930Highest	22,336Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.9±2.1Highest 9% below ME	40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME
	South Portland and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.2%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Brunswick and South Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.9%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Brunswick and South Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	53.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,838±$7kHighest 16% above ME	$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average
	South Portland and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$441,200±$17kHighest 49% above ME	$376,300±$15kLowest 27% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,812±$97Highest 59% above ME	$1,469±$99Lowest 29% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,359Lowest 44% above ME	$4,756Highest 57% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Brunswick and South Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	71.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 30% below ME	23 minHighest 5% below ME
Work from home	19.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Brunswick and South Portland 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	#52 of 133 in ME	#30 of 133 in ME
School district	Arthur R. Gould Sch--LCYDC · South Portland Public Schools	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10
High school in town	South Portland High School	Brunswick High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.