Compare towns
Chichester vs Plainfield vs Rollinsford 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
Chichester has the oldest population (median age 43).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Chichester | Plainfield | Rollinsford | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,745 |
2,522Lowest |
2,626 |
3,381Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43±3.3Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
38.8±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±6.2 6% above U.S. |
| Chichester and South Berwick 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and South Berwick 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$89,500±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22k 13% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$398,100±$33k 20% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,809±$394 28% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
| Chichester and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,189 130% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,851 120% above U.S. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±34.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±26.1 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 | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rollinsford and Chichester 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Chichester School District | Plainfield School District | Rollinsford 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.