Compare towns
Berwick vs South Berwick vs Sidney 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%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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.
| Measure | Berwick | South Berwick | Sidney | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
7,670 |
4,790Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest 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. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick 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. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below 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 | $4,436 42% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 18 | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
| 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.