Compare towns

Rochester vs Farmington 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 renters (34% rent).
Farmington has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Berwick has the most people working from home (20.2%).

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.

MeasureRochesterFarmingtonBerwick
People
Population
33,144Highest
6,795Lowest
8,175
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±1.8
11% above U.S.
49.1±7.1Highest
26% above U.S.
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
Farmington 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%
16.1%±4.5Lowest
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%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rochester and Farmington 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%
16.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.3Lowest
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±$3k
about the U.S. average
$66,943±$4kLowest
17% below U.S.
$94,771±$24kHighest
17% above U.S.
Berwick and Rochester 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.
$289,200±$47k
13% below U.S.
$369,100±$19kHighest
11% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,369±$72
3% below U.S.
$1,096±$110Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,452±$430Highest
about the U.S. average
Berwick and Rochester 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.
$4,723
51% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±16Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46Highest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 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
29 min
9% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
11.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.5%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick and Farmington 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 #106 of 120 in NH #101 of 133 in ME
School district Rochester School District Farmington School District RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town Spaulding High School Farmington Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.2Highest
5.5Lowest
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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.