Compare towns
Gorham vs Needham 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
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Gorham | Needham | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Lowest |
32,459Highest |
20,775 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Needham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westbrook and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5 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 | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$85,038±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$383,300±$19kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,392±$74Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Needham | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Needham High | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.