What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Berwick	Oakland
People
Population	5,129Lowest	6,309Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.6±4.7Highest 7% below ME	40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME
	North Berwick and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Oakland and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±5Highest ME: 22.4%	18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	North Berwick and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Oakland and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME	$77,813±$16kLowest 4% above ME
	North Berwick and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME	$236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$116Highest about the ME average	$939±$74Lowest 18% below ME
	North Berwick and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,735Highest 23% above ME	$2,439Lowest 20% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	North Berwick and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 27% above ME	27 minLowest 8% above ME
Work from home	15%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	North Berwick and Oakland 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	#23 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 60/MSAD 60	RSU 18
High school in town	Noble High School	Messalonskee High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	14.2Highest
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.