Compare towns
Berwick vs Mapleton vs Steep Falls vs New Gloucester
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).
Steep Falls has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
New Gloucester has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Steep Falls | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
1,884 |
1,861Lowest |
5,766 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4% ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.1±6.5Highest about the ME average |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| New Gloucester 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%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest 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±$24k 27% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$80,280±$33kLowest 7% above ME |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
| New Gloucester 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±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$357,100±$29k 20% above ME |
| Berwick and New Gloucester 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 |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$1,150±$249 about the ME average |
| 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 |
$3,273 8% above ME |
$3,417 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12 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% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
4.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick and New Gloucester 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 | — | — | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| 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.