Compare towns
West Bath vs Harpswell vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | West Bath | Harpswell | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Lowest |
5,046 |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6 21% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brunswick and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
| West Bath and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$376,300±$15kLowest 27% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
| Brunswick and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,516 16% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
$4,756Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 16% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell 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 | — | — | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | West Bath Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.