What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

Searsmont has the most affordable homes ($284k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Berwick	Searsmont
People
Population	8,175Highest	1,646Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME	44.5±9.8Highest about the ME average
	Searsmont 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 ME: 18.1%	13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.2%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	21%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Searsmont 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont 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±$24kHighest 27% above ME	$87,000±$20kLowest 16% above ME
	Berwick and Searsmont 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	$284,000±$31kLowest 4% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME	$940±$311Lowest 17% below ME
	Berwick and Searsmont 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	$2,788Lowest 8% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±46Highest ME: 48.4%	41.4%±41.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Berwick and Searsmont 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%	6.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME	1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 20% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%	16.3%±10.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Berwick and Searsmont 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	—
School district	RSU 60/MSAD 60	RSU 71
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.