Compare towns
Westbrook vs Salem vs Brewer
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).
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 | Salem | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,775 |
44,795Highest |
9,652Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
40.1±4.8Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Brewer and Salem 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Westbrook 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer 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% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Lowest 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±$7k 5% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% 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±$19k 15% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,005 28% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Salem 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Salem | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | Salem High | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
9.8Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.