Compare towns
Berwick vs Mapleton vs Strong vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Strong | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
1,884 |
1,249 |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
47.1±15 5% above ME |
| Strong and Sullivan 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% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Lowest 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% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sullivan and Strong 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% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Mapleton 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 |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$883±$114 22% below ME |
| Berwick and Strong 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 |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Berwick and Sullivan 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick and Strong 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.