Compare towns
Gorham vs Westbrook vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the most homeowners (81.5%).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Westbrook | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
20,775Highest |
9,652Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
40.1±4.8Highest 10% below ME |
| Brewer and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
9%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| 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±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$85,038±$7k 14% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$383,300±$19k 29% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,392±$74 22% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
| Gorham and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,005 32% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.1%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer 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 ME: 10.7% |
8% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #115 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Westbrook Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Westbrook High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.0Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.