Compare towns
Berwick vs Durham vs Franklin vs Mapleton
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 most kids (22.5% under 18).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Franklin | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998 |
15,080Highest |
1,628Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
| Durham and Mapleton 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$888±$306 37% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,231 28% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.