Compare towns
Berwick vs Mapleton vs Strong 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).
Strong has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Strong | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%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. |
47.5±8.9Highest 22% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Strong 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% |
19.5%±3.5 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strong 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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±$24kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% 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. |
$1,950 37% below U.S. |
$5,334Highest 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% |
20.9%±52.4 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest 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% |
84.6% 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. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Strong 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 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | 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.