Compare towns
Berwick vs Carmel 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 expensive homes ($323k median).
Carmel has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Carmel | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998 |
2,941Highest |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% ME: +2.6% |
+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Lowest 5% below ME |
46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
| Carmel 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% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1 ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Berwick 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% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Franklin and Carmel 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 |
$82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME |
$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
| Carmel 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 |
$256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
$245,800±$59kLowest 17% below ME |
| Berwick and Carmel 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 |
$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
| Carmel 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 |
$2,662 12% below ME |
$2,231Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel 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% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest 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 | #77 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — |
| 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.