Compare towns

Berwick vs Lebanon 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 homeowners (87.4%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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.

MeasureBerwickLebanonRochester
People
Population
8,175Lowest
14,999
33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9
5% above U.S.
38.9±3.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
43±1.8Highest
11% above U.S.
Rochester and Berwick 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%
14.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Rochester 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%
21.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Lebanon 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%
57.5%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%
6.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Lebanon 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.
$98,147±$10kHighest
22% above U.S.
$80,836±$3kLowest
about the U.S. average
Lebanon 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.
$385,400±$29kHighest
16% above U.S.
$279,100±$10kLowest
16% below U.S.
Lebanon and Berwick 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
$1,744±$132Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,369±$72Lowest
3% below U.S.
Lebanon and Berwick 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.
$8,149Highest
161% above U.S.
$5,334
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
66%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lebanon 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 #29 of 120 in NH #98 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Lebanon School District Rochester School District
High school in town None in town Lebanon High School Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.7Lowest
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.