Compare towns
Berwick vs Acton vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Berwick | Acton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998 |
2,721Highest |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Lowest 5% below ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
| Acton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Franklin and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39kHighest 9% above ME |
$78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
| Berwick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$36k 9% above ME |
$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$245,800±$59kLowest 17% below ME |
| Acton and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901Highest 9% below ME |
— | $888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
| Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Highest 25% above ME |
$2,680 12% below ME |
$2,231Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 37% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Acton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.