Compare towns
Rochester vs Eliot 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 affordable homes ($279k median).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Berwick has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
7,146Lowest |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest 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%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and Berwick 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 |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot 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. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older 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 15% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rochester School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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.