Compare towns
Berwick vs Rochester vs South Berwick
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 homeowners (73%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($397k 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 | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998Lowest |
33,144Highest |
3,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.4±6.2Lowest 6% 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% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and South 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% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Berwick 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% |
47.2%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%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and South Berwick 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±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$90,972±$22kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| South Berwick 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. |
$396,700±$66kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,702±$76Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,523 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Rochester 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME |
| 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.