Compare towns

South Berwick vs Warner vs Chichester vs Hampden

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 youngest population (median age 39).
Warner has the most renters (25.4% rent).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).

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.

MeasureSouth BerwickWarnerChichesterHampden
People
Population
7,670
2,959
2,745Lowest
7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.7±4Highest
12% above U.S.
43±3.3
11% above U.S.
41±2.9
5% above U.S.
Warner and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
25.8%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Hampden 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%
20.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Warner and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
$94,022±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
$109,297±$13k
35% above U.S.
$111,959±$13kHighest
39% above U.S.
Hampden and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$428,300±$26kHighest
29% above U.S.
$353,100±$22k
6% above U.S.
$409,300±$26k
23% above U.S.
$301,300±$38kLowest
9% below 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
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
$1,219±$123Lowest
14% below U.S.
$2,055±$275Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,286±$317
9% below U.S.
Chichester and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,956
59% above U.S.
$7,650Highest
145% above U.S.
$7,189
130% above U.S.
$3,694Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
48.7%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
55.6%±34.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
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
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±8
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampden 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 #58 of 133 in ME — #75 of 120 in NH #6 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Kearsarge Regional School District Chichester School District RSU 22
High school in town Marshwood High School None in town None in town Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0Lowest
— —
14.8Highest
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.