What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($397k median).

Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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	South Berwick	Rochester
People
Population	3,381Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+9.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±6.2Lowest 6% above U.S.	43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S.
	Rochester and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±1.9Highest 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+	47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Highest 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	$90,972±$22kHighest 13% above U.S.	$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average
	South Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,700±$66kHighest 19% above U.S.	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,702±$76Highest 20% above U.S.	$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S.	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±7Lowest 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	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.9%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±2.1Lowest 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	#58 of 133 in ME	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Rochester School District
High school in town	—	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.2
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.