Compare towns
Topsham vs Brunswick vs Bowdoinham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Brunswick has the youngest population (median age 40).
Bowdoinham has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Brunswick | Bowdoinham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
22,336Highest |
3,142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
51.9±13.1Highest 16% above ME |
| Bowdoinham 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 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±6.7Lowest 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+ | 50% ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$108,479±$21kHighest 45% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$405,500±$105kHighest 37% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
— |
| Brunswick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 40% above ME |
$4,756Highest 57% above ME |
$2,958Lowest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
22%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoinham 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 | #30 of 133 in ME | #73 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Brunswick High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.9Lowest |
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| 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.