Compare towns
Westbrook vs Auburn vs Brewer
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%).
Auburn has the oldest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Westbrook | Auburn | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,775 |
24,602Highest |
9,652Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
41.4±2.7Highest 8% below ME |
40.1±4.8 10% below ME |
| Auburn and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Auburn and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Westbrook and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,038±$7kHighest 14% above ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,300±$19kHighest 29% above ME |
$282,000±$12k 5% below ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74Highest 22% above ME |
$1,041±$74Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,005Highest 32% above ME |
$3,687 21% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
59.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 2 yrs older than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
22 minHighest 12% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 133 in ME | #110 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Auburn Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | Edward Little High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
13.1 |
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.