What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).

Chester has the highest household income ($142k).

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	Berwick	Chester
People
Population	8,175Highest	5,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7% U.S.: +7.4%	+9.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S.
	Chester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Berwick and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S.	$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S.	$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S.	$8,464Highest 171% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1%	19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Berwick and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Lowest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.
Work from home	20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Berwick and Chester 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	#101 of 133 in ME	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 60/MSAD 60	Chester School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.