Compare towns
Chichester vs Somersworth 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Somersworth | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,745Lowest |
12,111Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±3.3Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
19.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 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+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Somersworth 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±$13kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% 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 | $409,300±$26k 23% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| South Berwick 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. |
$1,477±$134Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Chichester and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,189Highest 130% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±34.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chichester and South Berwick 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Chichester School District | Somersworth School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Somersworth High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.