Compare towns
Durham vs Chichester vs South Berwick vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Chichester has the most homeowners (85.6%).
South Berwick has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Chichester | South Berwick | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
2,745Lowest |
3,381 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
43±3.3Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.4±6.2 6% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below 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 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 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+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$109,297±$13k 35% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$409,300±$26k 23% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,055±$275 45% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,189 130% above U.S. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±34.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Chichester School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.