Compare towns
Westbrook vs Exeter vs Gorham vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Gorham has the most homeowners (81.5%).
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 | Exeter | Gorham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,775 |
16,151Lowest |
18,300 |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 5% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$66,647±$5kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,300±$19k 15% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$282,000±$12kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,041±$74Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,005 28% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,687Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Gorham 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Gorham Public Schools | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | Exeter High School | Gorham High School | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
12.1 |
12.9 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.