What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winthrop has the most people working from home (23.1%).

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

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	Winthrop	Rochester
People
Population	6,191Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±5.3Highest 12% above U.S.	43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Winthrop and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Winthrop and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Winthrop and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rochester and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,470±$4kHighest 7% above U.S.	$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average
	Winthrop and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,800±$41kHighest 11% below U.S.	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.
	Winthrop and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$892±$319Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,506Lowest 12% above U.S.	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.8%±22.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Winthrop and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 133 in ME	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	Winthrop Public Schools	Rochester School District
High school in town	Winthrop High School	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	13.2Highest
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.