Compare towns
Berwick vs Oakland vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Oakland | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998 |
6,309Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Highest 5% below ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland 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 ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Oakland 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 9% above ME |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton 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±$36kHighest 9% above ME |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901Highest 9% below ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Berwick and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Highest 25% above ME |
$2,439 20% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland 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 ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
27 minLowest 8% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | Messalonskee High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.

