Compare towns
Westbrook vs Middlesex vs Windham 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k median).
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 | Middlesex | Windham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,775 |
1,943Lowest |
19,188 |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham 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%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westbrook and Auburn 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. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$66,647±$5kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 15% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$282,000±$12kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Windham and Westbrook 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. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,041±$74Lowest 26% 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. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,687Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Auburn 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 14 | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | Windham High School | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.