What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hiram has the most affordable homes ($257k 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	Hiram	North Berwick
People
Population	1,748Lowest	5,129Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.6±10.2 7% below ME	41.6±4.7 7% below ME
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	North Berwick and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	20.9%±5Highest ME: 22.4%
	North Berwick and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25%Lowest ME: 36.2%	29%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	North Berwick and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,813±$10kLowest 16% below ME	$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,600±$42kLowest 13% below ME	$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,070±$161Lowest 6% below ME	$1,105±$116Highest about the ME average
	North Berwick and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,106Lowest 31% below ME	$3,735Highest 23% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±24.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	North Berwick and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 28% above ME	31 minLowest 27% above ME
Work from home	8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	15%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	North Berwick and Hiram 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	—	#82 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 55/MSAD 55	RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town	Sacopee Valley High Sch	Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	12.0Highest
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.