Compare towns
Berwick vs Sanbornton vs Rochester vs South Berwick
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 highest household income ($114k).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Sanbornton | Rochester | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
3,053Lowest |
33,144Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% 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. |
39±2.5Lowest 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%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Berwick 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% |
15.8%±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% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Highest 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% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and South 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 |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and South 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. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick 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. |
$5,731Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% 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% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Berwick 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest 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% |
78.3% 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. |
1982 2 yrs newer 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 |
27 min 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% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and South 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Winnisquam Regional School District | Rochester School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2Highest |
13.0Lowest |
| 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.