Compare towns
Berwick vs Hampden vs Standish 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 most expensive homes ($369k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Hampden | Standish | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
7,896 |
10,662Highest |
4,790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 9% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
| Sidney and Hampden 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% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Sidney 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% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sidney and Berwick 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% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36% ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 27% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$104,593±$15k 40% above ME |
$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
| Hampden and Standish 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 |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
$336,000±$18k 13% above ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
| Berwick and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,340±$304 18% above ME |
| Berwick and Sidney 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 |
$3,694 22% above ME |
$3,005 about the ME average |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Standish 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% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 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 |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #18 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 22 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampden Academy | Bonny Eagle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
12.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.