Compare towns
Berwick vs Salem vs New Gloucester
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%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
New Gloucester has the shortest commute (27 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 | Salem | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175 |
30,964Highest |
5,766Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest 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% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% 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. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12Lowest 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% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5Lowest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Salem School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| 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.