Compare towns
Standish vs Rochester vs South 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
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Standish | Rochester | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,662 |
33,144Highest |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.5±2.8 4% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Rochester and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 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+ | 36% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Standish and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Standish 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | #98 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Rochester School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Spaulding High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
13.2Highest |
13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.