Compare towns
Berwick vs Rochester vs Augusta
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).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Rochester | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998Lowest |
33,144Highest |
19,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% 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 | 22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Augusta 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% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and Augusta 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 |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| 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 |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% 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. |
$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% 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. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Rochester 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Rochester School District | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding High School | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2Lowest |
17.9Highest |
| 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.