Compare towns
Westbrook vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
Biddeford has the youngest population (median age 35).
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 | Salem | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,775Lowest |
44,795Highest |
22,498 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1 4% below U.S. |
39.3±1.5Highest about the U.S. average |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| 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%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest 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%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±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. |
$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below 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. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest 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 | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Salem | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | Salem High | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
9.8Lowest |
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.