What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bangor has the most affordable homes ($220k median).

North Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Bangor	North Berwick
People
Population	31,938Highest	5,129Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±1.3Lowest 8% below ME	41.6±4.7Highest 7% below ME
	North Berwick and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	North Berwick and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	20.9%±5Highest ME: 22.4%
	North Berwick and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	29%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,942±$7kLowest 20% below ME	$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,600±$10kLowest 26% below ME	$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,055±$43Lowest 7% below ME	$1,105±$116Highest about the ME average
	North Berwick and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,076Lowest about the ME average	$3,735Highest 23% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±6.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	North Berwick and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 33% below ME	31 minHighest 27% above ME
Work from home	10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	15%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	North Berwick and Bangor 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	#37 of 133 in ME	#82 of 133 in ME
School district	Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4	RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town	Bangor High School	Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.