Compare towns
Westbrook vs Dedham vs Gorham 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%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
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 | Dedham | Gorham | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,775Highest |
1,656Lowest |
18,300 |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
40.1±4.8 10% below ME |
| Dedham 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% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Gorham 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% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer 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% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9 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 |
$111,442±$18k 49% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Gorham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,300±$19k 29% above ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74 22% above ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
| Gorham and Dedham 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 |
$3,942 30% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | Gorham High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
— | 12.9 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.