Compare towns
Berwick vs Rochester vs Salem
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%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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.
| Measure | Berwick | Rochester | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998Lowest |
33,144Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem 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% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Salem 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% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Salem and Berwick 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 |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Salem 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Rochester School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.