Compare towns
Berwick vs Appleton 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).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Franklin has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Appleton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Lowest 5% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
| Appleton 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% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest 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% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton 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% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Franklin and Appleton 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 |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
| Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$36kHighest 9% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
| Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 9% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Berwick 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 |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,231Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton 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% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick and Franklin 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Appleton 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.