Compare towns
Berwick vs Gardner vs Webster vs New Gloucester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
New Gloucester has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Gardner | Webster | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
21,148Highest |
17,748 |
5,766Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±5.5 3% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Berwick 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Gardner 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$108,797±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| New Gloucester 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±$19kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29k 7% above U.S. |
| Berwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,150±$249 19% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Webster 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. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and New Gloucester 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Gardner | Webster | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.