Compare towns
Rochester vs Augusta vs 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
Rochester has the oldest population (median age 43).
Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Berwick has the most people working from home (20.2%).
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 | Rochester | Augusta | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
19,077 |
8,175Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 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 | $80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$94,771±$24kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$369,100±$19kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430Highest 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. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Augusta 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #119 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rochester School District | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Lowest |
17.9Highest |
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| 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.