Compare towns
Topsham vs Ogunquit vs Scarborough 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 kids (19.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Scarborough has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Scarborough | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706 |
1,379Lowest |
23,215Highest |
22,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+17% ME: +2.6% |
+7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Brunswick 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
57.7% ME: 36.2% |
53.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
| Scarborough 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 22% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
$376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
— | $1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$1,469±$99 29% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$4,756 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Scarborough 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.4% ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 133 in ME | — | #35 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | Scarborough Public Schools | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | — | Scarborough High School | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 11.0 |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.