Compare towns

Berwick vs Whitingham 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%).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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.

MeasureBerwickWhitinghamRochester
People
Population
8,175
1,368Lowest
33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
46.4±7.1Highest
19% above U.S.
43±1.8
11% above U.S.
Whitingham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Whitingham 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%
31.1%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.9Lowest
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±$24kHighest
17% above U.S.
$70,625±$11kLowest
13% below U.S.
$80,836±$3k
about the U.S. average
Berwick and Rochester 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.
$262,300±$30kLowest
21% below U.S.
$279,100±$10k
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430Highest
about the U.S. average
$673±$150Lowest
52% 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
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$5,055
62% above U.S.
$5,334Highest
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
62.7%±47.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitingham 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%
15.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
66%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
38 minHighest
44% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.2%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.7%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±2.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick and Rochester 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 — #98 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Rochester School District
High school in town None in town Twin Valley Middle High School Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.8Lowest
13.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.