Compare towns
Westbrook vs Dedham vs Windham vs Biddeford
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 kids (23.8% under 18).
Windham has the most people working from home (19%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Windham | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,775 |
1,656Lowest |
19,188 |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.4±1 17% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Windham 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%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Dedham 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% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Biddeford 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±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
| Dedham and Windham 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±$33kLowest 20% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
| Biddeford and Windham 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 |
$1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
| Dedham and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,005 32% above ME |
$3,942 30% above ME |
$3,938Lowest 30% above ME |
$4,401Highest 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
| Westbrook and Biddeford 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Windham 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 14 | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | Windham High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
14.1Highest |
| 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.