What stands out worked out from the figures below

China has the most affordable homes ($240k median).

North Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	China	North Berwick
People
Population	4,526Lowest	5,129Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME	41.6±4.7Highest 7% below ME
	North Berwick and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	North Berwick and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4%	20.9%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	China and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	29%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	North Berwick and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,309±$12kLowest 29% above ME	$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME
	North Berwick and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,000±$37kLowest 19% below ME	$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,105±$116 about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,535Lowest 17% below ME	$3,735Highest 23% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	6%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 21% above ME	31 minHighest 27% above ME
Work from home	12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	15%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	North Berwick and China 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	#27 of 133 in ME	#82 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 18	RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town	None in town	Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.