Compare towns
Berwick vs Freedom vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Freedom | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
1,494Lowest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berwick and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Madison and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Madison and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$4,074 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Freedom 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 | Freedom School District | Madison School District |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.