Compare towns
Berwick vs Waitsfield vs Franklin
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 renters (27% rent).
Waitsfield has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Waitsfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998Highest |
1,918 |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Berwick 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Franklin 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% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Waitsfield 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 about the U.S. average |
$84,375±$34kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Waitsfield 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 about the U.S. average |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$245,800±$59kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Waitsfield 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 26% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821Highest 15% below U.S. |
$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Waitsfield 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. |
$6,208Highest 99% above U.S. |
$2,231Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.