What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterboro has the most affordable homes ($297k median).

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

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	Waterboro	North Berwick
People
Population	8,055Highest	5,129Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42±3.1Highest 6% below ME	41.6±4.7Lowest 7% 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	22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	21.2%±5.1Lowest 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+	14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	20.9%±5Highest 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+	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	29%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8%	4.7%±2.1 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,392±$16kLowest 20% above ME	$101,875±$16kHighest 36% 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	$297,000±$23kLowest about the ME average	$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$461Highest 5% above ME	$1,105±$116Lowest about the ME average
	Waterboro and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,772Lowest 9% below ME	$3,735Highest 23% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.2%±12.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.2%±28.7Highest 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	6%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.7%Lowest 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	35 minHighest 42% above ME	31 minLowest 27% above ME
Work from home	10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	15%±5.8Highest 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	#80 of 133 in ME	#82 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town	Massabesic High School	Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	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.