Compare towns
Berwick vs Appleton vs North Berwick vs Winthrop
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Winthrop has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Appleton | North Berwick | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
1,360Lowest |
5,129 |
6,191 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.6±4.7 7% below ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Berwick 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% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±5 ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
29%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| North Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 27% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
| North Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 24% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME |
$294,800±$41k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,105±$116 about the ME average |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
| Berwick and North Berwick 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 |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,735 23% above ME |
$3,506Lowest 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7 ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and North 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% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 20% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Winthrop 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 | — | #82 of 133 in ME | #12 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Noble High School | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.