What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sanford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+125.2%).

North Berwick has the most people working from home (15%).

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	Sanford	North Berwick
People
Population	22,247Highest	5,129Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+125.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.1±2.8Highest 6% below ME	41.6±4.7Lowest 7% below ME
	Sanford and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	North Berwick and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	20.9%±5Highest ME: 22.4%
	North Berwick and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	29%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±0.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	North Berwick and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,524±$7kLowest about the ME average	$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,200±$10kLowest 6% below ME	$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,152±$72Highest about the ME average	$1,105±$116Lowest about the ME average
	Sanford and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,708Lowest 22% above ME	$3,735Highest 23% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±7.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	North Berwick and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 14% above ME	31 minHighest 27% above ME
Work from home	9.8%±2Lowest ME: 15.9%	15%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	North Berwick and Sanford 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	#100 of 133 in ME	#82 of 133 in ME
School district	Sanford Public Schools	RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town	Sanford High School	Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.7Highest	12.0Lowest
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.