For most people who can afford it, yes. Brunswick grades A− overall, 24th among Maine's 142 graded towns. It has 76 miles of trail. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 87% of the country and its public schools beat 77% of Maine towns on state tests and graduation. The catch is cost: the typical home is worth about $497K, 5.4 years of the Portland metro’s $92K median household income. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 96% of U.S. towns, with 15 places on the National Register. Only 6 of Maine’s 285 towns score higher on walkability. Brunswick’s trail density is 1.4 miles per square mile, where Maine’s towns sit at 0.7 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Only 15 of Maine’s 285 towns score higher on hazard risk.

StrongestA⁺History A⁺Civic life AOutdoorsWeakestC⁻Cost of living

What makes Brunswick stand out

Where Brunswick beats most towns.

Harriet Beecher Stowe House

HistoryA⁺

Settled in 1628

A history going back 398 years.

Library visits per resident

4.5 times the library visits per person

than the typical Maine town

IMLS Public Libraries Survey.

Conserved land & trails

OutdoorsA

#10 most trails in ME

Harriet Beecher Stowe House · National Register of Historic Places

Brunswick’s story

398 years in pictures

Harriet Beecher Stowe House is one of 2 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1628, comes before those of 96% of the Maine towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 1,357 in 1790, 21,756 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1720 and 6 maps from 1894 on.

15 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1628Brunswick is settled

Explore the history →

How Brunswick grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Maine), ordered by how far Brunswick is from typical.

How grading works

WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.2 of 20; 6.8% of households have no car; 11% of workers walk, bike or ride transitAOpen →HealthMainehealth Mid Coast Hospital 4.1 miles awayAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 16% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →Cost of livingC⁻Open →SchoolsA⁻Open →SafetyBOpen →Jobs & income$75K median household income; 10,728 jobs based hereBOpen →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors12% conserved landAOpen →History30 notable people born hereA⁺Open →Civic life9.7 library visits per resident; 6.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA⁺Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market41 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 40.0; 54% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Brunswick: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Brunswick, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerCentral Maine Power27.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterBrunswick/Topsham Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet9 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site

SchoolsBrunswickWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Maine you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereBrunswick Town ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2026

ZIP code0401104011 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Brunswick.

Brunswick has cooler summers than nearly all U.S. towns, but it reports more crime than Topsham and its other graded neighbors and has property taxes 1.6 times the Maine norm.

OutdoorsA

Brunswick has set aside 12.2% of its land for conservation

77 miles of trail in 36 parks and preserves. Kate Furbish Preserve, at 619 acres with 10.2 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.

#10for trails in ME

12.2%

conserved · 4,225 of 34,555 acres

77 mi

of trails · 1.4 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Kate Furbish Preserve	10.2 mi	619
2. Crystal Spring Farm	5.3 mi	323
3. Neptune Woods	3.3 mi	64

Full pageBrunswick’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map77 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk10.2 miles of trail · Kate Furbish Preserve Conserved land12.2% conserved · 4,225 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Brunswick?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsA⁻

Brunswick earns an A− for schools

Its public schools are run by the Brunswick Public Schools. Two of its 7 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Brunswick High School, with 722 students.

77%of ME districts it outscoresA⁻School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Kate Furbish Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–2	Grades PK–2	616	–
Brunswick High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	722	A

Full pageBrunswick’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsBrunswick Public Schools Vs. the neighborsAhead of 2 of its 6 graded neighbors Every school7 schools · Brunswick High School Questions“Are Brunswick’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within ME on state tests and graduation

HealthA

Brunswick stands out in Maine and nationally, with fewer of its adults who have obesity

26% of adults have obesity in Brunswick, below both Maine’s towns (33%) and U.S. towns (35%). 9.1% of Brunswick adults have diabetes. Brunswick beats the Maine average on 21 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.

87%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade

	Brunswick	Maine towns	U.S. towns
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	26%	33%	35%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	29%	33%	36%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	10%	15%	14%
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)	18%	23%	25%

32 measures vs. Maine

21 better11 too close to call0 worse

What stands out	Brunswick	ME
Fewer smokers	10.3%	14.4%
Fewer adults facing food insecurity	8%	10.7%

Mainehealth Mid Coast Hospital

4.1 mi away · emergency room

None

primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

94th

percentile among ME towns

Full pageBrunswick’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsFewer smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby4.1 miles to an ER · Mainehealth Mid Coast Hospital How adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than ME on 21 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A

Brunswick faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 84% of U.S. communities. Since 1987, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Brunswick.

16risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingHurricanesEarthquakes

paid flood claims since 1987

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageBrunswick’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery low risk Flood claims3 paid flood claims · Since 1987 Past disasters2 federal disasters · Paid out in Brunswick Get ready2 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

In Brunswick, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers

July afternoons average 77.7°, cooler than in 96% of U.S. towns; January nights average 13.7°. The Brunswick Nas weather station records that 67 inches of snow fall in a normal winter: more than most of the country, but less than 91% of Maine places with climate records.

Brunswick has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Brunswick’s July high is 78°F.

67″snow a winter

	Brunswick	Maine towns	U.S. towns
July high	78°F	79°F	85°F
January low	14°F	10°F	22°F

Typical low → high °F

Winter17–34°

Spring34–52°

Summer57–76°

Fall41–58°

Oct 10

typical first frost

May 2

typical last frost

+1.9°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageBrunswick’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 78°, January lows 14°Rain & snow67″ of snow a winter · 48 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.9° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

HousingCost of living grade C⁻

Brunswick earns a C− for cost of living

The median property tax bill is $4,756, against $3,036 across Maine, another input to its cost-of-living grade.

The median rent in Brunswick is $1,469 a month. The typical Brunswick home is worth about $497,000, up 2.5% in a year, 21% above the Maine typical home.

$497KZillow home value

	Brunswick	Maine towns	U.S. towns
Median rent	$1,469 a month	$1,106 a month	$1,185 a month
Households that own their home	71%	81%	73%

Typical home value

Brunswick$497K

Maine$412K

Market temperature

days on market

100.9%

sale-to-list price

+2.5%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageBrunswick’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 2.5% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 6.6 years of income Rents$1,469 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 6 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

SafetyB

Crime per resident in Brunswick is lower than in 63% of U.S. towns

Brunswick is safe by national standards, yet each of the 3 graded towns on its borders reports less crime per resident, from Topsham (B+) to Bath (A−). Reported crimes fell from 312 to 155 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

Maine has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Brunswick sits closer to the middle.

63%of U.S. towns report more crimeBSafety Grade

	Brunswick	Maine towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	0.5 per 1,000 residents	0.6	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	6.3 per 1,000 residents	7.5	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Brunswick0.5

Maine1

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Brunswick6.3

Maine9.6

U.S.15.5

63rd

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

36th

percentile among ME towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

144

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageBrunswick’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type0.5 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsBehind its 3 graded neighbors Questions“Is Brunswick, ME safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B

A job hub: Brunswick has 1.2 jobs for every working resident and draws in 8,534 commuters

About one in 4 of Brunswick’s working residents works in town. 20% of workers work from home in Brunswick. The top destinations are Portland (14%), Bath (7%) and Freeport (4%).

25%work in town

	Brunswick	Maine towns	U.S. towns
Working residents who work in town	25%	12%	8%
Work from home	20%	14%	11%
Average trip to work	23 minutes	25 minutes	25 minutes
Below the poverty line	7.7%	9%	9.6%

Where working residents work

In Brunswick25%

Portland14%

Bath7%

Freeport4%

Topsham4%

18 mi

median commute distance

10,728

jobs based in Brunswick

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

Walkability grade: more walkable than 89% of U.S. towns

Full pageBrunswick’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here10,728 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work25% work in Brunswick Commute times23 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 18 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Nearby attractions

Portland Head Light and 24 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Brunswick. Close and well known come first.

All 45 attractions →

22 mi LighthousePortland Head Light 14 mi Ancient sitePopham Colony

20 mi LandmarkFort Gorges

in town MuseumBowdoin College Museum of Art 13 mi LandmarkSpirit Pond runestones

in town MuseumJoshua L. Chamberlain Museum

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Portland Head Light: Aniarku, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fort Gorges: Dirk Ingo Franke, CC BY 3.0 · Bowdoin College Museum of Art: Charles Follen McKim. Uploaded 28 September 2005 to en:Wikipedia by Hugh Manate, Public domain · Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum: Reroche at English Wikipedia, Public domain

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Brunswick

20pages on Brunswick

The big questions

SchoolsA⁻Beat 77% of ME districts · 7 schools SafetyB0.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than ME on 21 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingC⁻$497K typical home · up 2.5% in a year Work & commuteB$75K median household income · 10,728 jobs here Natural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 16% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA77 mi of trails · 12% conserved land PlacesAttractions45 nearby · Bowdoin College Museum of Art under 1 mi LibraryA⁺9.7 library visits per resident CollegesBowdoin College, in town

The story

HistoryA⁺Settled 1628 · 15 on the National Register Famous people30 born in Brunswick Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 35 residents Climate78° summer highs · 67″ of snow

Day to day

News3 recent stories about Brunswick WeatherHandbookZIP code 04011 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

2 within 15 miles of the center of Brunswick

Bowdoin CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · BrunswickIn town$67,832 tuition Unity Environmental UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · New Gloucester14.1 mi$12,640 tuition

About 13 of every 100 Brunswick residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Maine.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Get outside

77 miles of trails in Brunswick

12.2% of the town is conserved land, across 36 parks and preserves.

Map of trails and conserved land in Brunswick

ConservedTrails

Kate Furbish Preserve10.2 mi of trails · 619 acres

Directions

Crystal Spring Farm5.3 mi of trails · 323 acres

Directions

Neptune Woods3.3 mi of trails · 64 acres

Directions

Landmarks

15 places in Brunswick on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Harriet Beecher Stowe HouseBuilt 1850 · National Historic Landmark

Parker Cleaveland HouseNational Historic Landmark

First Parish Church

Massachusetts Hall, Bowdoin College

Famous people from Brunswick

30 notable people were born in Brunswick.

See all 30 →

John Stevens Cabot AbbottAmerican historian, pastor, and author · 1805–1877

Alpheus Spring PackardAmerican entomologist, palaeontologist · 1839–1905

John Rankin RogersAmerican politician, born 1838 · 1838–1901

Robert P. DunlapAmerican politician · 1794–1859

Dan WaltersAmerican baseball player · 1966–2020

George Palmer PutnamAmerican publisher and writer · 1814–1872

About Brunswick

Town in the United States

Official town website ↗

Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. Brunswick is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England City and Town Area. The population was 21,756 at the 2020 United States Census. Part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area, Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary–MacMillan Arctic Museum, and the Maine State Music Theatre. It was formerly home to the U.S. Naval Air Station Brunswick, which closed in 2011 and has since been partially released to redevelopment as "Brunswick Landing".

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1628
Area: 54 sq mi
ZIP code: 04011
Area code: 725

Brunswick’s neighbors

6 towns share a border with Brunswick.

Explore the map →

TopshamHarpswellWest BathFreeportBathDurhamBrunswick

Topsham

N · 4% of Brunswick workers commute here

Visit

Harpswell

Visit

West Bath

Visit

Freeport

SW · 4% of Brunswick workers commute here

Visit

Bath

E · 7% of Brunswick workers commute here

Visit

Durham

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	ME rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Brunswick	#24	A⁻	C⁻	B	A⁻	A
Topsham	#30	A⁻	C	B⁺	A⁻	A⁻
Harpswell	#34	B⁺	C	—	A⁻	A
West Bath	—	—	B	—	B⁺	B⁺
Freeport	#9	A	C⁻	B⁺	A	A
Bath	#36	B⁺	C⁺	A⁻	B⁺	B
Durham	#50	B	C	—	A	B⁺

West Bath has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Harpswell, West Bath and Durham report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Brunswick with a neighbor →

Questions about Brunswick

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Brunswick, ME a good place to live?

For most people who can afford it, yes. Brunswick grades A− overall, better than 79% of U.S. towns and #24 of 142 in Maine. It grades A for health, B for safety and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.

Is Brunswick, ME safe?

Yes, by national standards. Maine has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Brunswick sits nearer the middle.

Is Brunswick, ME expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.

What is Brunswick, ME known for?

30 notable people were born here, including John Stevens Cabot Abbott and Alpheus Spring Packard.

Post to Brunswick

Check your email

BrunswickME

Is Brunswick a good place to live?

What makes Brunswick stand out

Library visits per resident

398 years in pictures

How Brunswick grades

Moving to Brunswick: who provides what

The data

Brunswick has set aside 12.2% of its land for conservation

Brunswick earns an A− for schools

Brunswick stands out in Maine and nationally, with fewer of its adults who have obesity

Brunswick faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

In Brunswick, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers

Typical low → high °F

Brunswick earns a C− for cost of living

Typical home value

Crime per resident in Brunswick is lower than in 63% of U.S. towns

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

A job hub: Brunswick has 1.2 jobs for every working resident and draws in 8,534 commuters

Where working residents work

Portland Head Light and 24 more within 40 miles

Everything we know about Brunswick

Colleges nearby

77 miles of trails in Brunswick

Landmarks

Famous people from Brunswick

About Brunswick

Brunswick’s neighbors

Questions about Brunswick