Compare towns
Topsham vs Durham 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 44.7).
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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.
| Measure | Topsham | Durham | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
4,262Lowest |
17,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
| Topsham and Durham 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% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Durham 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% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 50% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
| Durham 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 22% above ME |
$322,200±$34kLowest 9% above ME |
$363,200±$18kHighest 22% above ME |
| 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 19% above ME |
— | $1,465±$100Highest 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 |
$3,781Lowest 25% above ME |
$4,477Highest 47% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 05 | — |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.