Compare towns
Topsham vs Ogunquit vs Bow 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 the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Brunswick has the most renters (33.7% 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 | Ogunquit | Bow | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706 |
1,379Lowest |
8,335 |
17,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
37.9±2.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.1%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$70,722±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Bow and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$363,200±$18k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,465±$100 4% above U.S. |
| Bow and Brunswick 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,477 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 133 in ME | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | — | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.