What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).

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	Thorndike	Westbrook
People
Population	1,403Lowest	20,775Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME	37.4±1Highest 17% below ME
	Westbrook and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%	18.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.1%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Westbrook and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	9%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$14kLowest 5% above ME	$85,038±$7kHighest 14% above ME
	Westbrook and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME	$383,300±$19kHighest 29% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME	$1,392±$74Highest 22% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,537Lowest 16% below ME	$4,005Highest 32% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	46.1%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Westbrook and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 46% above ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%	17.8%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike 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	—	#115 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03	Westbrook Public Schools
High school in town	Mt View High School	Westbrook High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	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.