Compare towns
Berwick vs New Gloucester vs Salem
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
New Gloucester has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | New Gloucester | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175 |
5,766Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Salem and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Berwick 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. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.