Compare towns
Westbrook vs Carmel vs Auburn
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%).
Carmel has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Auburn has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Carmel | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,775 |
2,941Lowest |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
41.4±2.7 8% below ME |
| Carmel and Auburn 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% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Auburn and Carmel 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% |
16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Auburn 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Westbrook and Auburn 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 |
$82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$66,647±$5kLowest 11% below ME |
| Westbrook and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,300±$19kHighest 29% above ME |
$256,800±$37kLowest 13% below ME |
$282,000±$12k 5% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74Highest 22% above ME |
$1,276±$187 12% above ME |
$1,041±$74Lowest 9% below ME |
| Westbrook and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,005Highest 32% above ME |
$2,662Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,687 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel 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% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
22 min 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 133 in ME | #77 of 133 in ME | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.