What it's like to live in Westbrook
Westbrook is a small city in Maine with unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Westbrook deals with cold winters, heavy snowfall, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Cold winters
- Heavy snowfall — 69" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Westbrook compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Westbrook
Based on Westbrook's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,784
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,680 a year
- 45% of Westbrook renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$76,660
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $38,330
- Homes cost 4.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,392/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,392 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $383,300. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $383,300 · 45% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 40% below US
2.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.6%, well below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 54% below US
153 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1271/100k · Westbrook Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 28% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 77°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 18°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 15% above US
41% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 41% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Frances Perkins National Monument (45 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Westbrook's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are cold winters and heavy snowfall. A year of median rent ($1,392/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home).
Other places near Westbrook
All Maine guides →Moving to South Portland →
6 mi away · pop. 26,930
Rent $1,812/mo · Income $86,838
Compare with Westbrook →Moving to Biddeford →
17 mi away · pop. 22,498
Rent $1,292/mo · Income $72,333
Compare with Westbrook →Not sure Westbrook is the one?
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