Compare towns
Westbrook vs Putney 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Putney | Gorham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,775 |
2,622Lowest |
18,300 |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1 4% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,038±$7k 5% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$66,647±$5kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,300±$19k 15% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$282,000±$12kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,041±$74 26% below U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% 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% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% 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. |
1977 3 yrs 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 min 29% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% 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% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #24 of 133 in ME | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Gorham Public Schools | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | Gorham High School | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
— | 12.9 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 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.