Compare towns
Rochester vs Belgrade 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 most renters (34% rent).
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Berwick has the most expensive homes ($369k 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 | Rochester | Belgrade | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
3,351Lowest |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Belgrade and Rochester 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% |
22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Belgrade 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% |
23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade 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% |
49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Berwick and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
$369,100±$19kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Berwick and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% 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. |
$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade and 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #71 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rochester School District | RSU 18 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2 |
— | — |
| 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.