What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Berwick	Chester
People
Population	7,670Highest	5,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average	47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chester and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester 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	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.	$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.	$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83 22% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.	$8,464Highest 171% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick and Chester 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	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Chester School District
High school in town	Marshwood High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.