Compare towns
Berwick vs Hampstead 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).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Hampstead | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Lowest |
9,102 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
44.9%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% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead 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. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampstead 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. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Rochester 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Rochester 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Hampstead School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
| 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.