Compare towns

Berwick vs Belgrade 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 most expensive homes ($369k median).
Belgrade has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

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.

MeasureBerwickBelgradeSidney
People
Population
8,175Highest
3,351Lowest
4,790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%
ME: +2.6%
+1.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
9% below ME
47.3±14.6Highest
6% above ME
43±5.5
4% below ME
Belgrade and Sidney 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%
22.6%±6.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
23.1%±5.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
Sidney 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%
23.9%±6.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.4%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
Belgrade and Sidney 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%
49.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
33.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.7
ME: 5.8%
5.7%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Belgrade 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±$24kHighest
27% above ME
$88,338±$13k
18% above ME
$83,488±$10kLowest
12% above ME
Berwick and Belgrade 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
$312,200±$44kLowest
5% above 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
$857±$108Lowest
25% below 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
$2,859
6% below ME
$2,474Lowest
19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46Highest
ME: 48.4%
17.2%±35.9
ME: 48.4%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Berwick and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%
ME: 10.7%
3.1%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
93.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
89.4%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989
12 yrs newer than ME
1985Lowest
8 yrs newer than ME
1996Highest
19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
20% above ME
23 minLowest
7% below ME
25 min
about the ME average
Work from home
20.2%±7.6
ME: 15.9%
20.4%±8.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Belgrade 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 #71 of 133 in ME #15 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 RSU 18 RSU 18
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.