Compare towns
Berwick vs Standish 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%).
Standish has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Standish | Rochester | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
10,662 |
33,144Highest |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8 4% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Rochester and Berwick 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% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Berwick 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% |
36% 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%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Standish 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. |
$336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$983±$453Lowest 30% 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 | $4,436 42% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and South 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 11% 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% |
13.6%±3.8 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | #98 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Rochester School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Spaulding High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Lowest |
13.2Highest |
13.0 |
| 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.