Compare towns
Dummerston vs Gorham vs Westbrook vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Dummerston | Gorham | Westbrook | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
18,300 |
20,775Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$85,038±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$383,300±$19k 15% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,392±$74Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #115 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Gorham Public Schools | Westbrook Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Westbrook High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.