Compare towns
Topsham vs Kittery vs Brunswick vs South Berwick
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%).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Kittery | Brunswick | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706 |
10,473 |
22,336Highest |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
46.8±2.3Highest 4% above ME |
40±2.8 11% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kittery 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 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Topsham 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% |
26.9%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Kittery 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% ME: 36.2% |
46% ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$93,728±$14k 25% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
| South Berwick and Kittery 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 |
$468,500±$31kHighest 58% above ME |
$376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
| Kittery and South Berwick 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 |
$1,716±$224 51% above ME |
$1,469±$99 29% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| South Berwick and Kittery 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 |
$4,518 49% above ME |
$4,756 57% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and South Berwick 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
71.2% ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Kittery Public Schools | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Robert W Traip Academy | Brunswick High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
9.9Lowest |
10.9 |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.