Compare towns
Berwick vs Sidney vs New Gloucester 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 renters (27% rent).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
New Gloucester has the highest household income ($109k).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Sidney | New Gloucester | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998 |
4,790 |
5,766Highest |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 5% below ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
| Franklin and Sidney 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% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| New Gloucester and Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Franklin and New Gloucester 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 |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$36k 9% above ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
$357,100±$29kHighest 20% above ME |
$245,800±$59kLowest 17% below ME |
| New Gloucester and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 9% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,150±$249 about the ME average |
$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
| Sidney and New Gloucester 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 |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$3,417 13% above ME |
$2,231Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12 ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Berwick and Franklin 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.9% ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
27 min 9% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #65 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 18 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.