Compare towns
Berwick vs Gorham vs Williston 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).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Gorham | Williston | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Lowest |
18,300 |
10,144 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Williston 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%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% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Williston 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. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Williston and Gorham 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 |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Williston and Gorham 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Gorham Public Schools | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
— | 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.