Compare towns
Berwick vs Oakland vs Smithfield
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%).
Oakland has the most renters (22.4% rent).
Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Oakland | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
6,309 |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 9% below ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Berwick 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% |
18.2%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Oakland 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 |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Smithfield 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 |
$236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$939±$74Lowest 18% below ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
| Berwick and Smithfield 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 |
$2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland 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% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
27 minLowest 8% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Messalonskee High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.