What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).

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	Brookfield	Berwick
People
Population	567Lowest	1,998Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S.	42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Berwick and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,406±$31k about the U.S. average	$81,406±$39k about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S.	$323,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,041±$901 26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,926Highest 90% above U.S.	$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	13.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1%	13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#101 of 133 in ME
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.