Compare towns
Berwick vs Orono vs Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering BerwickSomersworth, NH
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
Orono has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Berwick has the most people working from home (20.2%).
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 | Orono | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998Lowest |
11,902Highest |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
+9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Highest 5% below ME |
21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME |
40.7±2.9 9% below ME |
| Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5 ME: 18.1% |
6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Berwick 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% |
11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% ME: 36.2% |
66.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39k 9% above ME |
$61,528±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$94,771±$24kHighest 27% above ME |
| Berwick 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 |
$272,600±$40kLowest 8% below ME |
$369,100±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
| Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,255±$112 10% above ME |
$1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
| Berwick and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Lowest 25% above ME |
$4,830Highest 59% above ME |
$4,436 46% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.6%±46 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% |
24.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% ME: 74.3% |
46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
15 minLowest 38% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick 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 | #26 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 26 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | — | Orono High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.