Compare towns
Belfast vs Westbrook vs Boothbay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
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%).
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 min average).
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 | Belfast | Westbrook | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,986 |
20,775Highest |
3,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% ME: +2.6% |
+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
56.8±3.9 27% above ME |
| Belfast and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
18.5%±2.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.8Lowest 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% |
35.4%±7.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
6%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Westbrook and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
$85,038±$7kHighest 14% above ME |
$60,320±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$34kLowest 15% above ME |
$383,300±$19kHighest 29% above ME |
$342,100±$43k 15% above ME |
| Westbrook and Boothbay 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 |
$1,147±$121 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$4,005 32% above ME |
$2,202Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
46.1%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
30.4%±31Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 13% below ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
| Work from home | 12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest 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 | 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.