Compare towns
Westbrook vs Appleton vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Westbrook | Appleton | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,775Highest |
1,360Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
| Appleton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest 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 | $85,038±$7k 14% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,300±$19k 29% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74 22% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
| Gorham and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,005 32% above ME |
$3,588Lowest 18% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest 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 | #115 of 133 in ME | — | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.