Compare towns
Rochester vs Berwick vs Barrington
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 affordable homes ($279k median).
Berwick has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Barrington has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Berwick | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
1,998Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest 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 | 18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barrington 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 |
$81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$110,323±$14kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Berwick 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. |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$399,100±$30kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 71% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | — | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | — | 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.