Compare towns
Topsham vs Berlin 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
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k 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 | Topsham | Berlin | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
3,378Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,469±$99 4% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,756 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Berlin 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #61 of 282 in MA | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Berlin-Boylston | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.