Compare towns
Chichester vs Bennington vs South Berwick vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
South Berwick has the most renters (33% rent).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k 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.
| Measure | Chichester | Bennington | South Berwick | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,745 |
1,588Lowest |
3,381Highest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±3.3Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
41.4±6.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.9±5.4 8% 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 | 20.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5Lowest 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+ | 17.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sanbornton and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest 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 | $109,297±$13k 35% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22k 13% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,300±$26k 23% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$396,700±$66k 19% above U.S. |
$452,300±$30kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,055±$275Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
$1,289±$198Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,189Highest 130% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±34.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest 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 | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chichester and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chichester School District | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.