What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berwick has the most kids (22.7% under 18).

Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Berwick	Acton
People
Population	8,175Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME	52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME
Kids under 18	22.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.2%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Acton 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Berwick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,771±$24kHighest 27% above ME	$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME
	Berwick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$369,100±$19kHighest 24% above ME	$334,300±$34kLowest 13% above ME
	Berwick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$430 27% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,436Highest 46% above ME	$2,680Lowest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±46Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 20% above ME	40 minHighest 64% above ME
Work from home	20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Berwick and Acton 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	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 60/MSAD 60	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.