Compare towns
Berwick vs Belgrade 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 youngest population (median age 42.6).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Belgrade | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998 |
3,351Highest |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Lowest 5% below ME |
47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
| Belgrade and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Berwick 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% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39k 9% above ME |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
| Belgrade and Berwick 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 |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$245,800±$59kLowest 17% below ME |
| Berwick and Belgrade 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 |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$888±$306 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 |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$2,231Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.