Compare towns

Berwick vs Sanbornton vs Rochester vs Somersworth

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).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% 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.

MeasureBerwickSanborntonRochesterSomersworth
People
Population
8,175
3,053Lowest
33,144Highest
12,111
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9
5% above U.S.
41.9±5.4
8% above U.S.
43±1.8Highest
11% above U.S.
38.4±2.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%
19.9%±4
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
14%±3Lowest
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%
31.4%
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%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Somersworth 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±$24k
17% above U.S.
$113,750±$41kHighest
41% above U.S.
$80,836±$3k
about the U.S. average
$74,504±$13kLowest
8% below U.S.
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.
$318,400±$23k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
$1,289±$198Lowest
9% below U.S.
$1,369±$72
3% below U.S.
$1,477±$134Highest
5% above U.S.
Somersworth and Berwick 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.
$5,731
84% above U.S.
$5,334
71% above U.S.
$6,805Highest
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
29.3%±23.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±7
U.S.: 51.1%
56.3%±14.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Somersworth 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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
66%
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
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%±2.1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
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 #117 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Winnisquam Regional School District Rochester School District Somersworth School District
High school in town None in town None in town Spaulding High School Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.2Highest
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.