Compare towns

Berwick vs Salem vs Rollinsford

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).

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.

MeasureBerwickSalemRollinsford
People
Population
8,175
30,964Highest
2,626Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9
5% above U.S.
44.6±2.7Highest
15% above U.S.
38.8±5.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Salem and Berwick 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%
16.2%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Rollinsford 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%
18.6%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rollinsford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Salem and Berwick 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.
$110,490±$9kHighest
37% above U.S.
$89,500±$26kLowest
11% above U.S.
Salem 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±$19kLowest
11% above U.S.
$473,300±$16kHighest
42% above U.S.
$398,100±$33k
20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,625±$146
15% above U.S.
$1,809±$394Highest
28% above U.S.
Rollinsford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,992Highest
124% above U.S.
$6,851
120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±26.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Berwick and Salem 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%
5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rollinsford 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 #38 of 120 in NH #94 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Salem School District Rollinsford School District
High school in town None in town Salem High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.