Compare towns
Topsham vs Freeport 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 most affordable homes ($361k median).
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k 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 | Freeport | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
8,802Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
| Freeport 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% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
53.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
| Freeport 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 |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
| Brunswick and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$4,756 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 05 | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Freeport High School | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
12.2Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.