Compare towns
Topsham vs Gorham vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Brunswick has the most renters (33.7% rent).
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 | Topsham | Gorham | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,271Lowest |
18,300Highest |
17,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.9Highest about the ME average |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
| Topsham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brunswick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,024±$18k 34% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
| Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,500±$24k 31% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$363,200±$18kLowest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,491±$1k 31% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,465±$100Lowest 29% above ME |
| Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,431Lowest 46% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,477 47% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.5%±14.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.