Compare towns

Berwick vs Sanbornton 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%).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).

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.

MeasureBerwickSanborntonRochester
People
Population
8,175
3,053Lowest
33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.9±5.4
8% above U.S.
43±1.8Highest
11% above U.S.
Rochester and Sanbornton 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%
18.1%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Rochester 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%
21.5%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Sanbornton 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%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%
1.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Rochester 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.
$113,750±$41kHighest
41% above U.S.
$80,836±$3kLowest
about the U.S. average
Sanbornton 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.
$452,300±$30kHighest
36% above U.S.
$279,100±$10kLowest
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,289±$198Lowest
9% 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
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$5,731Highest
84% above U.S.
$5,334
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.3%±23.5Lowest
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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
66%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% 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%
15.8%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick and Sanbornton 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 #42 of 120 in NH #98 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Winnisquam Regional School District 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 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.