Compare towns

Berwick vs Chapman vs Rochester

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 people working from home (20.2%).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Rochester has the most renters (34% 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.

MeasureBerwickChapmanRochester
People
Population
8,175
388Lowest
33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
45.7±11.4Highest
17% above U.S.
43±1.8
11% above U.S.
Chapman and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
27.6%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Chapman and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Chapman and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,771±$24kHighest
17% above U.S.
$93,125±$17k
15% above U.S.
$80,836±$3kLowest
about the U.S. average
Berwick and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$369,100±$19kHighest
11% above U.S.
$185,700±$22kLowest
44% below U.S.
$279,100±$10k
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430Highest
about the U.S. average
—
$1,369±$72Lowest
3% below U.S.
Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,436
42% above U.S.
$1,850Lowest
41% below U.S.
$5,334Highest
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±7
U.S.: 51.1%
Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
66%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
23 minLowest
12% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.2%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±2.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick and Rochester 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
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 — Rochester School District
High school in town None 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.