Compare towns
Westbrook vs Needham vs Biddeford
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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,775Lowest |
32,459Highest |
22,498 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1 4% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westbrook and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 5% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,300±$19kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | — | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | — | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
— | 14.1Highest |
| 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.