Compare towns

Barrington vs Berwick vs Rochester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barrington has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Berwick has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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.

MeasureBarringtonBerwickRochester
People
Population
9,489
1,998Lowest
33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±2.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.6±3.6
10% above U.S.
43±1.8Highest
11% above U.S.
Rochester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±12.5
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barrington and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.9%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rochester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Barrington and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,323±$14kHighest
37% above U.S.
$81,406±$39k
about the U.S. average
$80,836±$3kLowest
about the U.S. average
Barrington and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$399,100±$30kHighest
20% above U.S.
$323,300±$36k
about the U.S. average
$279,100±$10kLowest
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,041±$901Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,369±$72
3% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,121Highest
128% above U.S.
$3,806Lowest
22% above U.S.
$5,334
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.9%±45.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±7
U.S.: 51.1%
Barrington and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73%
U.S.: 65.2%
66%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.7%±7.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Barrington and Berwick 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 #65 of 120 in NH #101 of 133 in ME #98 of 120 in NH
School district Barrington School District — Rochester School District
High school in town None in town — Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.