Compare towns
Rochester vs Berwick vs North 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k 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 | Berwick | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
1,998Lowest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| 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%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and North Berwick 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% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Berwick 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% |
35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Berwick 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 |
$101,875±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| North Berwick 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 |
$428,500±$33kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,105±$116 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,806 22% above U.S. |
$3,735Lowest 20% 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% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North 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% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Berwick 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 | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rochester School District | — | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | — | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | 12.0Lowest |
| 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.