Compare towns
Berwick vs Methuen vs Mapleton vs Trenton
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 people working from home (13.7%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Trenton has the oldest population (median age 43.5).
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 | Methuen | Mapleton | Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998 |
53,475Highest |
1,884 |
1,599Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.5±7.7Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Trenton 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% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.5Lowest 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%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Trenton and Mapleton 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% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Trenton 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 |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$60,455±$13kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Methuen 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 |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$357,400±$36k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,102±$241 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$5,061Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,310 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Trenton and Methuen 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Methuen 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Methuen | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Trenton Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Methuen High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.