Compare towns
Holderness vs South Berwick vs Chichester vs Plainfield
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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
7,670Highest |
2,745 |
2,522 |
| 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% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
43±3.3Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest 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 | $107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$109,297±$13k 35% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% 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 | $363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$409,300±$26k 23% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and South Berwick 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±$83 22% above U.S. |
$2,055±$275 45% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% 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. |
$7,189 130% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% 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% |
31.8%±23.1 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below 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% |
18.1%±8.5 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #75 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Chichester School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| 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.