Compare towns
Berwick vs Mapleton vs Penobscot vs North Berwick
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 people working from home (20.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k 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 | Mapleton | Penobscot | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
1,884 |
1,154Lowest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
41.6±4.7 7% below ME |
| Penobscot and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
29%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and North Berwick 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME |
| North Berwick 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$1,105±$116 about the ME average |
| Berwick and Penobscot 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$3,735 23% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and North 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick and Penobscot 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 | — | — | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.