Compare towns

Berwick vs Sidney vs Strafford

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 the shortest commute (25 min average).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).

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.

MeasureBerwickSidneyStrafford
People
Population
8,175Highest
4,790
4,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
43±5.5
11% above U.S.
46.3±2.1Highest
19% above U.S.
Strafford and Sidney 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%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sidney and Berwick 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%
18.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Strafford 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%Highest
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%
5.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford 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±$10kLowest
3% above U.S.
$122,105±$22kHighest
51% above U.S.
Strafford 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.
$336,200±$34kLowest
about the U.S. average
$427,900±$29kHighest
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
$1,340±$304Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,635±$246Highest
16% above U.S.
Strafford and Berwick 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.
$6,086Highest
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford 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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Lowest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
20.2%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick and Strafford 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 #73 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 RSU 18 Strafford School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.