Compare towns
Bennington vs Chichester 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
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).
South Berwick has the most renters (33% rent).
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 | Bennington | Chichester | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,745 |
3,381Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
43±3.3Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.4±6.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Chichester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chichester 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+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$109,297±$13kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22k 13% above U.S. |
| Chichester and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$409,300±$26kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66k 19% above U.S. |
| Chichester and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$2,055±$275Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$7,189Highest 130% above U.S. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±34.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chichester and Bennington 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 | — | #75 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Chichester School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.