Compare towns
Berwick vs Franklin vs Mars Hill
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%).
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Franklin | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
1,628 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
| Franklin and Mars Hill 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill 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% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Mars Hill 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% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill and Franklin 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 |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
| Berwick and Franklin 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 |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$888±$306 22% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
| Berwick and Franklin 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 |
$2,231 27% below ME |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1Lowest 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% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick and Franklin 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 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
| 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.