Compare towns
Auburn vs Exeter vs Westbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($282k median).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Auburn | Exeter | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,602Highest |
16,151Lowest |
20,775 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westbrook and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,647±$5kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$85,038±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,000±$12kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$383,300±$19k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$74Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,687Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,005 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Westbrook 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 | #110 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Auburn Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | Edward Little High School | Exeter High School | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1 |
12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.