Compare towns

Franklin vs Berwick vs Brooks

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).

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.

MeasureFranklinBerwickBrooks
People
Population
1,628
8,175Highest
1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
ME: +2.6%
+9.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-6.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
46±9.3Highest
about the ME average
40.7±2.9Lowest
9% below ME
45.9±6.6
about the ME average
Franklin and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.7%±4.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.1%±4.2
ME: 18.1%
Berwick and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.6%±3.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.2%±4.1
ME: 22.4%
17%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%
ME: 36.2%
35%Highest
ME: 36.2%
27.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.6
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
6.8%±3.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
Brooks and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,455±$16k
12% below ME
$94,771±$24kHighest
27% above ME
$59,130±$10kLowest
21% below ME
Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,800±$59k
17% below ME
$369,100±$19kHighest
24% above ME
$196,700±$33kLowest
34% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$888±$306Lowest
22% below ME
$1,452±$430Highest
27% above ME
$1,116±$112
about the ME average
Berwick and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,231
27% below ME
$4,436Highest
46% above ME
$2,096Lowest
31% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.7%±27.8
ME: 48.4%
50.6%±46Highest
ME: 48.4%
18%±17.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.7%
ME: 10.7%
4.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
19.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%
ME: 74.3%
87.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Lowest
7 yrs newer than ME
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
18% above ME
30 minHighest
20% above ME
25 minLowest
about the ME average
Work from home
12.2%±5.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
20.2%±7.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
14.5%±2.9
ME: 15.9%
Berwick and Brooks 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 —
School district — RSU 60/MSAD 60 RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.