What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

South Portland has the most expensive homes ($441k 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	South Portland
People
Population	20,775Lowest	26,930Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	+6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME	40.9±2.1Highest 9% below ME
Kids under 18	18.5%±2.4Highest ME: 18.1%	14.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Westbrook and South Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	20.7%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	South Portland 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	51.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%	8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Westbrook and South Portland 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 14% above ME	$86,838±$7kHighest 16% above ME
	South Portland 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 29% above ME	$441,200±$17kHighest 49% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,392±$74Lowest 22% above ME	$1,812±$97Highest 59% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,005Lowest 32% above ME	$4,359Highest 44% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.1%±7.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	55.6%±7.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	South Portland and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	58.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 2 yrs older than ME	1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 24% below ME	17 minLowest 30% below ME
Work from home	17.8%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	19.5%±2.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	South Portland 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	#52 of 133 in ME
School district	Westbrook Public Schools	Arthur R. Gould Sch--LCYDC · South Portland Public Schools
High school in town	Westbrook High School	South Portland High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.