Compare towns
Sidney vs Berwick vs Rochester vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Berwick has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Sidney | Berwick | Rochester | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,998Lowest |
33,144Highest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
— |
| Rochester and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,806 22% above U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME | #98 of 120 in NH | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | Rochester School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.