Compare towns
Berwick vs Monroe 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 people working from home (20.2%).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($220k median).
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 | Monroe | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175 |
1,001Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.5±7Highest 12% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe 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% |
22.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe 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% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Monroe 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. |
$81,300±$7k about the U.S. average |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Monroe 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. |
$220,300±$57kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,165±$152Lowest 18% 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. |
$2,207Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±47.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monroe and Berwick 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% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Monroe 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 03/MSAD 03 | Rochester School District |
| High school 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 |
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.