Compare towns
Berwick vs Ogunquit vs Howland 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Howland has the most affordable homes ($150k 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 | Ogunquit | Howland | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
1,379 |
1,367Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
47.6±10.2 22% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Howland 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$49,297±$21kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit 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±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$150,100±$52kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $916±$246Lowest 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$1,546Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±18.2 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 31/MSAD 31 | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Penobscot Valley High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Lowest |
13.2Highest |
| 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.