Compare towns
Berwick vs Epping vs Strafford 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 youngest population (median age 40.7).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Sidney has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Strafford | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
7,430 |
4,306Lowest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Epping 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Strafford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Epping 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±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Epping 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. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Strafford 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 |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Epping and Strafford 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. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Epping 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Epping School District | Strafford School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.