Compare towns
York vs Brunswick vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
York has the most expensive homes ($636k median).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | York | Brunswick | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,986 |
17,652Highest |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5% ME: +2.6% |
+12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.2Highest 10% above ME |
37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| York and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| York and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
23%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| York and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
51.3% ME: 36.2% |
50%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME |
$70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| York and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME |
$363,200±$18k 22% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,490±$336Highest 31% above ME |
$1,465±$100 29% above ME |
$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
| York and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,658Highest 53% above ME |
$4,477 47% above ME |
$4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±10.8 ME: 48.4% |
58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 26%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| York 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 | #13 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | York Public Schools | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | York High School | — | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.