Compare towns
Rochester vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Berwick has the most homeowners (87.4%).
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 | Exeter | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
16,151 |
8,175Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% 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 |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rochester School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.