Compare towns
Topsham vs Newfields vs Gray 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Brunswick has the most renters (28.8% rent).
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 | Newfields | Gray | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706 |
2,023Lowest |
8,429 |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Topsham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Gray 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brunswick and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$99 4% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 37% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,756 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Newfields School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 12.5Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.