Compare towns
Berwick vs Mapleton vs Strafford vs Somersworth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Mapleton | Strafford | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998 |
1,884 |
1,372Lowest |
12,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,477±$134Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Somersworth and Strafford 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | — | — | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Strafford School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 72 photos → |
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.