Compare towns
Berwick vs Strafford vs Sidney
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 the most people working from home (20.2%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Sidney has the shortest commute (25 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 | Strafford | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
4,306Lowest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sidney 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Sidney 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% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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 17% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Strafford School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.