Cost of Living in Westbrook, ME

Population 20,484 · Maine · Data vintage 2023

109
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Westbrook is a smaller Maine community of around 20000 residents, where median household incomes of $85,868 and housing costs ($342,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape. The labor market has been unusually tight, with unemployment around 2.4% — below most comparable cities in the state.

Located 75 miles northeast of Manchester, Westbrook is far enough out that local conditions diverge meaningfully from the big-metro baseline. Housing prices track closely with Manchester's $336,000 median.

Cost Overview

Housing 112
Rent 104

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Westbrook

The median home value in Westbrook is $341,800 — 12% above the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,373/month, 4% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $85,868/year is 15% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 2.4%, below the national average of 4.8%. Maine's top state income tax rate is 7.2% and the combined sales tax is 5.5%. Overall, Westbrook has a cost of living index of 109 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 9% more expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$341,800
12% above avg
Zillow Home Value
$437,915
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,373/mo
4% above avg
Zillow Rent
$2,326/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.7x
Favors renting
Property Tax Rate
1.4%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$839
1 BR
$901
2 BR
$1,155
3 BR
$1,455
4 BR
$1,649
Owner-occupied 64.3%
Renter-occupied 35.7%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,373
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $1,987/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
22.2 min
18% below avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
18.1%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
71.3%
Carpooled
7.4%
Public transit
0.7%
Walked
1.1%
Bicycle
0.2%
Work from home
18.1%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax 7.2%
Total Sales Tax 5.5%
State rate 5.5%
Avg local rate 0.0%
Property Tax 1.4%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$85,868
15% above avg
Per Capita Income
$42,871
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
49% below avg
Poverty Rate
9.1%
Labor Force Participation
71.8%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 27.7%
Graduate degree 12.1%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 37.5
Male median age 37.4
Female median age 38.1

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 40 — Good
72.9%
Good air days/yr
120
Max AQI recorded
175
PM2.5 days
179
Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

87%
4-Year Graduation Rate
11.4:1
Student-teacher ratio
6
Public schools
2,444
Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Westbrook, ME?

Westbrook has a cost index of 109 (100 = national average). It is 9% above the national average.

What is average rent in Westbrook, ME?

The median gross rent in Westbrook is $1,373 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Westbrook?

The median home value in Westbrook is $341,800 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Westbrook?

The median household income in Westbrook is $85,868 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Westbrook, ME?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Westbrook is 5.5%. The Maine state income tax top rate is 7.2%.

Is Westbrook, ME affordable?

Westbrook is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 109 (100 = US average).

Westbrook at a Glance

Population
20,484
Median Income
$85,868
Home Value
$341,800
Median Rent
$1,373/mo
Unemployment
2.4%
Sales Tax
5.5%
View all cities in Maine →
🗺️ County data for Maine

Explore county-level cost of living data

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