What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waterboro has the most affordable homes ($297k 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	Waterboro
People
Population	5,129Lowest	8,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.6±4.7Lowest 7% below ME	42±3.1Highest 6% below ME
	Waterboro 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%	22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Waterboro 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%	14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	North Berwick and Waterboro 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%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1 ME: 5.8%	4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME	$89,392±$16kLowest 20% above ME
	North Berwick and Waterboro 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	$297,000±$23kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$116Lowest about the ME average	$1,200±$461Highest 5% above ME
	Waterboro and North Berwick 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	$2,772Lowest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4%	50.2%±12.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	North Berwick and Waterboro 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%	6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983 6 yrs newer than ME	1983 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 27% above ME	35 minHighest 42% above ME
Work from home	15%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	North Berwick and Waterboro 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	#80 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 60/MSAD 60	RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town	Noble High School	Massabesic High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	13.5Highest
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.