Compare towns
Berwick vs Brooks vs Franklin vs Mapleton
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%).
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Brooks | Franklin | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,628 |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Franklin and Brooks 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% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Mapleton 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 |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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 |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$888±$306 22% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Berwick and Brooks 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 |
$2,096 31% below ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Berwick and Franklin 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% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 min 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick and Brooks 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school 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.