Compare towns
Westbrook vs Gorham 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%).
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 | Gorham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,775 |
18,300Lowest |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+4.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
41.4±2.7Highest 8% below ME |
| Auburn and Gorham 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% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$66,647±$5kLowest 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,300±$19k 29% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$282,000±$12kLowest 5% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74 22% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,041±$74Lowest 9% below ME |
| Gorham 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,687Lowest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest 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 | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | Gorham High School | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
12.9 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.