Compare towns
Berwick vs Ogunquit vs Orono vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Orono is a college town. 56.1% 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 | Ogunquit | Orono | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998 |
1,379Lowest |
11,902Highest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 5% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
6.8%±1.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
66.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39k 9% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$61,528±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
| Ogunquit 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±$36k 9% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$272,600±$40k 8% below ME |
$245,800±$59kLowest 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 9% below ME |
— | $1,255±$112Highest 10% above ME |
$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
| Orono and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 25% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,830Highest 59% above ME |
$2,231Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Orono and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
24.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
15 minLowest 38% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #101 of 133 in ME | — | #26 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | — | RSU 26 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Orono High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.