Compare towns
Berwick vs Mapleton vs Strafford 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 most renters (27% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Mapleton | Strafford | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998Highest |
1,884 |
1,372Lowest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46±9.3 18% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Strafford 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%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% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$888±$306 37% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,231 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.