What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k median).

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.

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

Measure	North Berwick	Washburn
People
Population	5,129Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.6±4.7Lowest 7% below ME	48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME
	Washburn and North Berwick 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%	21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Washburn and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%	24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Washburn 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+	29%Highest ME: 36.2%	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	North Berwick and Washburn 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	$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME	$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$116Highest about the ME average	$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,735Highest 23% above ME	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±24.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	North Berwick and Washburn 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%	12.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 27% above ME	21 minLowest 15% below ME
Work from home	15%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	North Berwick and Washburn 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 60/MSAD 60	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Noble High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0	12.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.