Compare towns
Berwick vs Portsmouth 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 kids (22.5% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Portsmouth | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998 |
22,545Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Portsmouth 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 |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Portsmouth School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

