What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).

North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rochester	North Berwick
People
Population	33,144Highest	5,129Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S.	41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Rochester and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	North Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Berwick 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%	29%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Berwick 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	$101,875±$16kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.	$428,500±$33kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S.	$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.	$3,735Lowest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	North 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%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	North 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	#82 of 133 in ME
School district	Rochester School District	RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.