Compare towns
Berwick vs Lee vs Plainfield 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
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Lee | Plainfield | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
4,576 |
2,522Lowest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Sidney 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436 42% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.