Compare towns
Berwick vs Sidney vs New Gloucester 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%).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
New Gloucester has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Sidney | New Gloucester | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
4,790Lowest |
5,766 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1 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. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| New Gloucester 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±$19kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$357,100±$29k 7% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Berwick and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% 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. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,417 10% above U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #65 of 133 in ME | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 18 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.