Compare towns
Berwick vs Acton vs Union vs Sidney
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 highest household income ($95k).
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Sidney has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Acton | Union | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
2,721 |
2,663Lowest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Union 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% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
| Berwick and Sidney 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±$34k 13% above ME |
$267,600±$42kLowest 10% below ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
| Berwick and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
— | $1,179±$452Lowest 4% above ME |
$1,340±$304 18% above ME |
| Berwick and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Highest 46% above ME |
$2,680 12% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Acton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.