Compare towns
Berwick vs Nelson 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
Berwick has the most expensive homes ($369k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Nelson | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
648Lowest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berwick and Sidney 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. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Nelson 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 11% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Sidney 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Nelson School District | 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 |
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.