Compare towns
Berwick vs Epping vs Sidney 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 youngest population (median age 40.7).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Sidney has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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.
| Measure | Berwick | Epping | Sidney | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
7,430 |
4,790Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Epping and Sidney 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Rochester 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% 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% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Epping School District | RSU 18 | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.