Compare towns
Berwick vs Dorset vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Dorset | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998 |
2,092Highest |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Dorset 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 about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Dorset 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 about the U.S. average |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$245,800±$59kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$2,231Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #101 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.