Compare towns
Berwick vs Freeport 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 most kids (22.7% under 18).
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Freeport | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Lowest |
8,802 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Freeport 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% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport 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. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Freeport 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. |
$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport 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% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 05 | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.