Compare towns
Berwick vs Topsham 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 the most renters (27% rent).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Topsham | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998 |
9,706Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 5% below ME |
44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Topsham 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 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham 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% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest 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 Topsham 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 9% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Topsham 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 |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Topsham and Berwick 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 |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Topsham 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 |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Berwick and Topsham 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.

