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Moving to
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.
What it's like to live in Brunswick
Brunswick is an unincorporated community in Maine with county unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Brunswick deals with a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold, harsh winters, heavy snowfall, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Heavy snowfall — 67" per year
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Brunswick compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Brunswick
Based on Brunswick's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,930
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,600 a year
- 56% of Brunswick renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$72,640
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $36,320
- Homes cost 5.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,465/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,465 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $363,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $363,200 · 56% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Cumberland County is 2.7%, well below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Cumberland County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 85% below US
48 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 643/100k · Brunswick Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 77°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 15°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 42% above US
51% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Frances Perkins National Monument (21 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Brunswick's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($1,465/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Brunswick
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