Compare towns
Berwick vs Mapleton vs Sidney vs Steep Falls
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).
Sidney has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Steep Falls has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Sidney | Steep Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
1,884 |
4,790 |
1,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
44.1±6.5Highest about the ME average |
| Steep Falls 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 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Steep Falls 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and 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±$24kHighest 27% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$80,280±$33kLowest 7% above ME |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
$243,400±$31k 18% below 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±$430 27% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,340±$304 18% above ME |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
| Steep Falls and Berwick 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 |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$3,273 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older 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 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.