Compare towns
Westbrook vs Rye vs Brewer vs Gorham
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye | Brewer | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,775Highest |
5,611Lowest |
9,652 |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 5% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
| Rye and Gorham 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| Rye and Gorham 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #32 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Rye School District | Brewer Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | Brewer High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
12.9 |
| 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.