Compare towns

Berwick vs Hermon 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 people working from home (20.2%).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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.

MeasureBerwickHermonRochester
People
Population
8,175
6,727Lowest
33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+19.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.1±4.7
6% above U.S.
43±1.8Highest
11% above U.S.
Rochester and Hermon 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%
21.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Hermon 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%
20.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Hermon 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%
37.6%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%
4.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Hermon 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.
$96,629±$22kHighest
20% above U.S.
$80,836±$3kLowest
about the U.S. average
Hermon 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±$19kHighest
11% above U.S.
$333,600±$32k
about the U.S. average
$279,100±$10kLowest
16% below U.S.
Berwick and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,406±$202
about the U.S. average
$1,369±$72Lowest
3% below U.S.
Berwick and Hermon 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.
$2,761Lowest
11% below U.S.
$5,334Highest
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
28.2%±19.1Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
66%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
2000Highest
20 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.2%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±2.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick and Rochester 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 #54 of 133 in ME #98 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Hermon Public Schools Rochester School District
High school in town None in town Hermon High School Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.6Highest
13.2Lowest
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.