Compare towns
Berwick vs Durham vs Rochester vs Sidney
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Rochester | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
10,681 |
33,144Highest |
4,790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest 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+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Sidney 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | — | Rochester School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None 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.