Compare towns

Berwick vs Wells vs North Berwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
North Berwick has the highest household income ($102k).

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.

MeasureBerwickWellsNorth Berwick
People
Population
8,175
11,713Highest
5,129Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%
ME: +2.6%
+18%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+8.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
9% below ME
53.6±3.8Highest
20% above ME
41.6±4.7
7% below ME
Kids under 18
22.7%±4.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
18%±3.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
21.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
Berwick and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
31%±3.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
20.9%±5
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%
ME: 36.2%
43.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
29%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
4.7%±2.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
North Berwick and Wells 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
27% above ME
$88,024±$11kLowest
18% above ME
$101,875±$16kHighest
36% above ME
North Berwick 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±$19kLowest
24% above ME
$485,300±$23kHighest
64% above ME
$428,500±$33k
44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430Highest
27% above ME
$1,350±$297
19% above ME
$1,105±$116Lowest
about the ME average
Berwick and Wells 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
$3,215Lowest
6% above ME
$3,735
23% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46
ME: 48.4%
42.1%±19.6Lowest
ME: 48.4%
66.2%±28.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
North Berwick 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
ME: 10.7%
6.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
4.4%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
90.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
88.7%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1983Lowest
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
20% above ME
28 minLowest
12% above ME
31 minHighest
27% above ME
Work from home
20.2%±7.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
17.8%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
15%±5.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Berwick and Wells 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 #22 of 133 in ME #82 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Wells-Ogunquit CSD RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town None in town Wells High School Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.