Compare towns
Berwick vs Eliot vs Rochester vs Standish
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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Rochester has the most renters (34% rent).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Eliot | Rochester | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
7,146Lowest |
33,144Highest |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Rochester 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Standish and Eliot 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #98 of 120 in NH | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Rochester School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.