Compare towns
Berwick vs Madison 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%).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Rochester has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Madison | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175 |
4,782Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.6±3.4Highest 28% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
25.1%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$61,747±$11kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Rochester 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. |
$187,600±$40kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$906±$247Lowest 36% 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 | $4,436 42% above U.S. |
$1,983Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest 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% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 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 |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Madison 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 | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.