What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belfast	Westbrook
People
Population	6,986Lowest	20,775Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME	37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME
Kids under 18	14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.5%±2.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Westbrook and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4%	18.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	9%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME	$85,038±$7kHighest 14% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$34kLowest 15% above ME	$383,300±$19kHighest 29% above ME
	Westbrook and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME	$1,392±$74Highest 22% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,145Highest 37% above ME	$4,005Lowest 32% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4%	46.1%±7.4Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Belfast and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest ME: 10.7%	8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME	1975Highest 2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 13% below ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.8%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Westbrook and Belfast 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	#84 of 133 in ME	#115 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 71	Westbrook Public Schools
High school in town	Belfast Area High School	Westbrook High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.