Compare towns
Westbrook vs Middlesex vs Brewer
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,775Highest |
1,943Lowest |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westbrook and Brewer 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,300±$19kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Westbrook and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Westbrook and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Westbrook 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.