Compare towns
South Berwick vs Chichester vs Cornish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Berwick has the most renters (33% rent).
Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | South Berwick | Chichester | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,381Highest |
2,745 |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±6.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43±3.3 11% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | $90,972±$22kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$109,297±$13kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$66k 19% above U.S. |
$409,300±$26kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Chichester and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
$2,055±$275Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,189Highest 130% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±34.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest 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 | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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 | — | Chichester School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.