Compare towns
Rochester vs Mapleton vs Appleton 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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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.
| Measure | Rochester | Mapleton | Appleton | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Appleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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±$3k about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$94,771±$24kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$369,100±$19kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Berwick 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% 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. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Rochester 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 |
| School district | Rochester School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.