Compare towns

Berwick vs Lancaster vs Sidney

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 most people working from home (20.2%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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.

MeasureBerwickLancasterSidney
People
Population
8,175Highest
3,216Lowest
4,790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
45.5±6.9Highest
17% above U.S.
43±5.5
11% above U.S.
Lancaster and Sidney 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%
20.9%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Berwick and Lancaster 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
17% above U.S.
$68,911±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$83,488±$10k
3% above U.S.
Berwick and Sidney 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.
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% below U.S.
$336,200±$34k
about the U.S. average
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
about the U.S. average
$1,019±$263Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,340±$304
5% below U.S.
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
42% above U.S.
$4,226
35% above U.S.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Berwick and Lancaster 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%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
20.2%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick and Sidney 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 #107 of 120 in NH #15 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 White Mountains Regional School District RSU 18
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.