Compare towns
Berwick vs Chichester vs Rochester vs 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 people working from home (20.2%).
Chichester has the highest household income ($109k).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Berwick has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | Chichester | Rochester | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
2,745 |
33,144Highest |
1,998Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43±3.3Highest 11% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$109,297±$13kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
| Chichester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$409,300±$26kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
| Chichester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$2,055±$275Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Chichester and Berwick 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. |
$7,189Highest 130% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±34.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chichester and Berwick 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Chichester 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Chichester School District | Rochester School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.