What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($397k median).

Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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	South Berwick	Mapleton
People
Population	3,381Highest	1,884Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.2% ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.4±6.2Lowest 8% below ME	41.8±6Highest 7% below ME
	Mapleton and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mapleton and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Mapleton and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Mapleton and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,972±$22kLowest 22% above ME	$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME
	Mapleton and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,700±$66kHighest 34% above ME	$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,702±$76Highest 49% above ME	$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,523Highest 49% above ME	$1,789Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±30.9Highest ME: 48.4%	16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	South Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	8.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67%Lowest ME: 74.3%	79.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 19% above ME	28 minLowest 13% above ME
Work from home	13.9%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9%	10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	South Berwick and Mapleton 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	#58 of 133 in ME	—
School district	—	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town	—	None in town
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.