Compare towns
Berwick vs Mapleton vs Bedford 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Bedford | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
1,884Lowest |
23,746 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%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. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Bedford 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%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%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Bedford 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. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% 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. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% 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. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
| Bedford 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. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Berwick 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 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. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Bedford School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
13.2Lowest |
| 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.