Compare towns
Westbrook vs Wakefield vs Gorham 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%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Gorham has the most homeowners (81.5%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Wakefield | Gorham | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,775 |
27,793Highest |
18,300Lowest |
22,498 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1 4% below U.S. |
42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Gorham 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% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Biddeford 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,300±$19kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westbrook and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Gorham 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Gorham Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Gorham High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
10.7Lowest |
12.9 |
14.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.