Compare towns
Berwick vs Topsham vs Williston
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 homeowners (87.4%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Topsham | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Lowest |
9,706 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Topsham 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% |
19.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Williston 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% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Williston 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% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Topsham 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. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Williston 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.