Compare towns
Berwick vs Rochester vs Sidney vs Franklin
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 youngest population (median age 42.6).
Rochester has the most renters (34% rent).
Sidney has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Sidney | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998 |
33,144Highest |
4,790 |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% 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%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Berwick 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% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 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±$39k about the U.S. average |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Sidney 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±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$245,800±$59kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Berwick 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. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Sidney 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. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$2,231Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
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% |
14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Rochester School District | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.