What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Westbrook	Salem
People
Population	20,775Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S.	39.3±1.5Highest about the U.S. average
	Salem and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Westbrook and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westbrook and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	8.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westbrook and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,038±$7kLowest 5% above U.S.	$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Salem and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$383,300±$19kLowest 15% above U.S.	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,392±$74Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S.	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem 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	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Westbrook Public Schools	Salem
High school in town	Westbrook High School	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.