Compare towns
Berwick vs Bristol vs Standish
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%).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Bristol | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175 |
2,917Lowest |
10,662Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 9% below ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24kLowest 27% above ME |
$100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME |
| Standish and Bristol 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 |
$406,400±$54kHighest 37% above ME |
$336,000±$18kLowest 13% above ME |
| Bristol and Berwick 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 |
$1,051±$106 8% below ME |
$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME |
| Berwick and Bristol 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 |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,005 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Standish 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol 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 | #16 of 133 in ME | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.