Compare towns
Holderness vs South Berwick vs Chichester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Chichester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Holderness | South Berwick | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
7,670Highest |
2,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43±3.3Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Chichester and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.4 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+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 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 | $107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$109,297±$13kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Chichester and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$409,300±$26k 23% 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 | $2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$2,055±$275 45% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$7,189Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±34.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chichester and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8Highest 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Chichester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— |
| 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.