Compare towns
Mapleton vs Berwick vs Nelson vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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.
| Measure | Mapleton | Berwick | Nelson | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
8,175Highest |
648Lowest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Washburn and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$369,100±$19kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Berwick 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Nelson School District | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.