Compare towns
Chichester vs South Berwick vs Plainfield vs Andover
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%).
South Berwick has the most renters (33% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Andover has the most affordable homes ($367k 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 | South Berwick | Plainfield | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,745 |
3,381Highest |
2,522 |
2,135Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±3.3 11% above U.S. |
41.4±6.2 6% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Andover and Chichester 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% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±3.3Lowest 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% |
15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Plainfield 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% |
47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.2Lowest 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. |
$90,972±$22k 13% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$88,514±$27kLowest 10% 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. |
$396,700±$66k 19% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$366,500±$44kLowest 10% 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. |
$1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,189 130% above U.S. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,962 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±34.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±8.3 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chichester and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Chichester School District | — | Plainfield School District | Andover 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.