Compare towns
Rochester vs Berwick vs Lebanon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Berwick has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Lebanon has the most homeowners (96.8%).
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 | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
1,998Lowest |
6,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
39.6±5.8Lowest 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% |
24.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lebanon 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% |
12.9%±3.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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 |
$97,750±$11kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Lebanon 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 |
$324,800±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Lebanon and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— |
| Rochester and Berwick 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. |
$3,806 22% above U.S. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Berwick 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #87 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rochester School District | — | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| 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.