Compare towns
Berwick vs Mapleton vs Auburn 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 youngest population (median age 40.7).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Rochester has the most renters (34% rent).
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 | Mapleton | Auburn | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
1,884Lowest |
6,119 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Auburn 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Mapleton 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%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%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Berwick 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | — | #44 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Auburn School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.2 |
| 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.