Compare towns
Rochester vs Berwick vs Salem
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 most kids (22.7% under 18).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
8,175Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Rochester 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% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Salem 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Salem 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. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 71% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.