What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).

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	Thorndike
People
Population	20,775Highest	1,403Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.4±1Highest 17% below ME	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME
	Westbrook and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.1%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4%	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Westbrook and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,038±$7kHighest 14% above ME	$78,438±$14kLowest 5% above ME
	Westbrook and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$383,300±$19kHighest 29% above ME	$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,392±$74Highest 22% above ME	$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,005Highest 32% above ME	$2,537Lowest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.1%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4%	36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Westbrook and Thorndike 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%	6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	36 minHighest 46% above ME
Work from home	17.8%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike 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	—
School district	Westbrook Public Schools	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	Westbrook High School	Mt View High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.