Compare towns
Berwick vs Appleton vs Washburn
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 people working from home (20.2%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Appleton | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
1,360 |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
| Appleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Washburn 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% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24kHighest 27% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Berwick and Appleton 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 |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton 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% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick and Appleton 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 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.