Compare towns
Westbrook vs Dedham 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%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($282k 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 | Dedham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,775 |
1,656Lowest |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
41.4±2.7 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Auburn 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% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Auburn and Dedham 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% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest 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±$7k 14% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$66,647±$5kLowest 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,300±$19kHighest 29% above ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$282,000±$12kLowest 5% below ME |
| Westbrook and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74 22% above ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,041±$74Lowest 9% below ME |
| Dedham and Westbrook 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 |
$3,942 30% above ME |
$3,687Lowest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Auburn and Westbrook 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 133 in ME | — | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools | 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.