What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k 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	South Berwick
People
Population	33,144Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Rochester and South 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%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rochester and South Berwick 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%	41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rochester and South 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	$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.	$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S.	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	South 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	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Rochester School District	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	13.0Lowest
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.