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Living in
Brunswick.
Brunswick is an unincorporated community in Cumberland County, ME. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Brunswick
Living in Brunswick means settling into a smart, walkable college town where the economy genuinely benefits from Bowdoin College's presence without feeling totally defined by it—though that academic energy does shape the local culture and job market in real ways. You'll find yourself among a thoughtful, educated crowd (nearly 50% have college degrees), which means good restaurants and cultural events like the Bowdoin International Music Festival and Maine State Music Theatre actually matter to neighbors—but it also means the town can feel a bit buttoned-up if you're looking for grit or edge. The real win is proximity: you're 22 minutes on average from work, close enough to Portland for bigger-city amenities, with Amtrak's Downeaster connecting you directly to Boston if needed, and you've got genuine outdoor access through Casco Bay and the Androscoggin River right there.
Brunswick at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Foreign-Born
5.9%
Broadband Internet
90.4%
of households
Population Growth
+12.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.9% foreign-born, most often from England
Who lives in Brunswick: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Brunswick, the largest foreign-born group is from England (12.9%), and 1.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.1%
of residents
65 and Older
23.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.6%
of households
Married Couples
45.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.15
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 29% above ME average
Rent, home values, and income in Brunswick
In Brunswick, rent runs 29% above the ME average, and home values are 22% above the ME average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,477
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $496,993 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below ME average
Unemployment in Brunswick
Unemployment in Cumberland County, which includes Brunswick, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the ME average.
Unemployment rate
Brunswick: Cumberland County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cumberland County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Brunswick Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.8 min avg
How Brunswick residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Brunswick, most residents drive alone to work (58%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 25 mi
Portland International Jetport (PWM)
Small hub1.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 119 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 85% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Brunswick runs 85% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
48.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
643.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Brunswick Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
77.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cumberland County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cumberland County, which includes Brunswick, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Winter Storm | $84,000 |
| 2024 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20.5M |
| 2023 | 17 | Winter Storm | $554,000 |
| 2022 | 21 | Winter Storm | $10.4M |
| 2021 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $145,000 |
| 2020 | 24 | Winter Storm | $67,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Heavy Snow | $60,000 |
| 2018 | 18 | Heavy Snow | $1.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cumberland County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cumberland County, which includes Brunswick, is typically good — 271 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
271
per year
Moderate Days
89
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Cumberland County, county-wide
Climate77°F summers, 15°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Brunswick has mild summers (avg high 77°F) and very cold winters (avg low 15°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/33°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
77°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/15°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.0"
Annual Snowfall
66.8"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
152
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 12°F | 3.46" |
| Feb | 33°F | 14°F | 3.50" |
| Mar | 41°F | 24°F | 4.06" |
| Apr | 53°F | 32°F | 4.28" |
| May | 64°F | 44°F | 4.06" |
| Jun | 73°F | 53°F | 4.21" |
| Jul | 79°F | 59°F | 3.48" |
| Aug | 78°F | 58°F | 3.27" |
| Sep | 70°F | 50°F | 4.20" |
| Oct | 58°F | 39°F | 6.00" |
| Nov | 47°F | 30°F | 5.19" |
| Dec | 37°F | 20°F | 4.30" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Brunswick
Brunswick has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Mainehealth Mid Coast Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Mainehealth Mid Coast Hospital · 123 Medical Center Drive
- Outpatient center: Mid Coast Primary Care · 22 Station Ave Ste 102, Brunswick
- Outpatient center: Mid Coast Primary Care · 22 Station Ave Ste 202, Brunswick
- Outpatient center: Mid Coast Primary Care · 22 Station Ave Ste 101, Brunswick
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education11.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Brunswick
Brunswick's student/teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 51.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
51.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Brunswick
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,873 students · in-state tuition $71,740 · 95% graduate · median earnings $90,153 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Frances Perkins National Monument, 21 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Brunswick
Brunswick has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Frances Perkins National Monument (21 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Frances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
21 mi awayAcadia National Park
National Park
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Brunswick
Curtis Memorial Library
23 Pleasant Street, Brunswick
Cities Near Brunswick
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Brunswick?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Brunswick FAQ
Is Brunswick, Maine affordable?⌄
Brunswick's median rent is $1,465/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $70,722/year. Median home value is $363,200.
Is Brunswick, Maine safe?⌄
Brunswick's violent crime rate was 48 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 643 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Brunswick, Maine?⌄
Cumberland County, which includes Brunswick, has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Brunswick, Maine?⌄
The cost of living in Brunswick is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,465/month and median household income is $70,722/year. The median home value is $363,200. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Brunswick, Maine?⌄
The average commute in Brunswick is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from