Compare towns
Westbrook vs Windham vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Windham | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,775Highest |
19,188 |
9,652Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% below ME |
40.1±4.8 10% below ME |
| Windham and Brewer 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% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Westbrook and Brewer 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 14% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,300±$19k 29% above ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
| Windham and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$74Highest 22% above ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
| Westbrook and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,005Highest 32% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Westbrook Public Schools | RSU 14 | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | Windham High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
12.1 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.