Compare towns
Berwick vs Freeport vs Topsham 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 youngest population (median age 40.7).
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).
Topsham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Sidney 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 | Freeport | Topsham | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
8,802 |
9,706Highest |
4,790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
| Freeport and Topsham 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% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 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% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport and Topsham 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% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport and Topsham 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 27% above ME |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
| Freeport 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±$19k 24% above ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
$336,200±$34kLowest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,340±$304Lowest 18% above ME |
| Berwick and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436 46% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport 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% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.