Compare towns
Berwick vs Franklin 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
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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.
| Measure | Berwick | Franklin | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998 |
1,628Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39kHighest about the U.S. average |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$36kHighest about the U.S. average |
$245,800±$59kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$2,231Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Franklin 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Rochester School District |
| High school 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.