Compare towns
Berwick vs Mapleton vs Nelson 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 expensive homes ($369k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
1,884 |
648Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest 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. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Berwick 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Nelson 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% 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% |
40%±68.8 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% |
1.4%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% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older 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. |
24 minLowest 8% 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% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Nelson 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.