Compare towns
Berwick vs New Gloucester vs Plainfield 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 renters (27% rent).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | New Gloucester | Plainfield | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998 |
5,766Highest |
2,522 |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5 3% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Plainfield 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% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,797±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and New Gloucester 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 |
$357,100±$29k 7% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$1,150±$249 19% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$3,417 10% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Plainfield 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and New Gloucester 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 | #65 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | Plainfield School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.