Compare towns
Berwick vs Salem vs Standish
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).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Salem | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Lowest |
30,964Highest |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% 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%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Standish 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% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Salem and Standish 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. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% 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. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Salem School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.