Part of the Moving to Maine guide
From locals, not a chamber of commerce. Updated July 2026.
Short Answer
Brunswick is one of the best all-around towns in Maine, and a lot of people who research the state end up here. It pairs a handsome, walkable downtown and the cultural perks of Bowdoin College with a real economy (the former naval air base is now Brunswick Landing, a growing business and aviation park), a regional hospital, an Amtrak stop, and an easy ~30-minute commute to Portland. You get midcoast access and small-town charm without being isolated or as expensive as Portland proper. It's a strong fit for families, professionals, remote workers, and retirees. See the Midcoast region guide and the full Moving to Maine guide to compare.
Brunswick is the town people mean when they say they want Maine but not the middle of nowhere, a college-town Main Street, jobs at the old air base, the coast nearby, and Portland half an hour away.
For example
A common story: a family commuting to Portland buys in Brunswick for the schools and walkable downtown, gaining college-town culture and coast access while staying 30 minutes from city jobs. Or a remote worker settles near Brunswick Landing, betting on a town with an actual growing employment base rather than one that only offers scenery.
Brunswick suits people who want small-town Maine without the isolation. It's a town of about 21,000 with an unusually complete package: a walkable historic downtown (the famously wide Maine Street), the cultural life of Bowdoin College, a regional hospital, good schools, and quick access to both the midcoast and Greater Portland. That makes it a strong fit for families, professionals who commute to or work remotely for Portland-area employers, anyone connected to Bowdoin, and retirees who want amenities and healthcare nearby. It's less ideal only for people chasing rock-bottom prices, which are easier to find inland.
Brunswick is moderately priced by Maine standards, more than inland cities like Bangor or Waterville, but generally below Portland proper. Its desirability and Portland commutability keep demand steady. Expect a range of housing from in-town historic homes to newer developments near Brunswick Landing. As everywhere in Maine, budget for winter heating ($2,500-$5,000/year) and check the current mill rate for property taxes. For what you get, a complete town with jobs, culture, and coast access, many buyers consider it good value.
Need help choosing the right town?
Explore Maine town guides →Brunswick has a healthier local economy than most Maine towns its size. Brunswick Landing, the redeveloped former naval air station, has grown into a business and aviation park hosting manufacturers, aviation companies, and startups, and it continues to add employers and housing. Bowdoin College and Mid Coast Hospital are major stable employers. And because Portland is only about 30 minutes away, Brunswick works well as a commuter base, plus the Amtrak Downeaster stops in town for car-free trips to Portland and Boston. It's also a comfortable base for remote workers.
Brunswick offers college-town culture with coastal access. Bowdoin brings museums (including the Bowdoin College Museum of Art and the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum), concerts, lectures, and sports open to the community. Downtown has restaurants, shops, a farmers market, and the summer concert series on the mall. You're minutes from the water at nearby Harpswell and the midcoast, with beaches, boating, and hiking close by, and Freeport (L.L.Bean) is right next door. It's an easy, well-rounded lifestyle that rarely feels remote.
Brunswick isn't cheap, its desirability keeps housing above inland Maine, so budget shoppers may look elsewhere. Winters are real Maine winters, though the coastal location softens them slightly versus inland. And while the downtown is lively, it's still a town, not a city, so for big-city energy you'll drive to Portland. For most people weighing Brunswick, these are minor tradeoffs against a genuinely complete place to live.
Yes, if
You want a walkable, complete town with real jobs, college-town culture, coast access, and an easy Portland commute, and you're okay paying midcoast prices rather than bargain inland rates. Families, professionals, remote workers, and retirees all fit well.
No, if
Your top priority is the lowest possible housing cost or maximum acreage, or you want big-city amenities at your doorstep. Inland Maine is cheaper, and Portland is denser.
Yes, it's one of the more family-friendly towns in Maine: good schools, a walkable downtown, parks, a regional hospital, and quick access to both the coast and Portland. The main tradeoff is that housing costs more than inland Maine.
About 30 minutes by car, and there's an Amtrak Downeaster station in town for car-free trips to Portland and Boston. That commutability is a big part of why Brunswick is popular with professionals and remote workers.
Brunswick Landing, the redeveloped former naval air station, is a growing business and aviation park with manufacturers and startups. Bowdoin College and Mid Coast Hospital are also major employers, and many residents commute to or work remotely for Portland-area jobs.
It's moderately priced, more than inland cities like Bangor or Waterville, but generally below Portland proper. Its desirability and Portland commutability keep demand and prices steady. Many buyers consider it good value for a complete town.
Bowdoin College drives a lot of it, museums, concerts, lectures, and sports. Downtown has restaurants, shops, a farmers market, and summer concerts, and you're minutes from the water at Harpswell and the midcoast, with Freeport (L.L.Bean) next door.
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