Compare towns
Berwick vs Dayton 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).
Dayton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Dayton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998 |
2,313Highest |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 5% below ME |
42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
| Franklin and Berwick 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% |
20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Dayton 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% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest 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% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Dayton 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 |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
| Dayton 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±$36k 9% above ME |
$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME |
$245,800±$59kLowest 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 9% below ME |
$1,215±$867Highest 7% above ME |
$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
| Dayton and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 25% above ME |
$3,872Highest 28% above ME |
$2,231Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Berwick and Dayton 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Dayton 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Dayton 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.