Compare towns
Topsham vs Dummerston 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Dummerston | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
2,090Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Dummerston 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±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$15kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Brunswick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Brunswick and Dummerston 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,756Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 Our Story | 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.