Compare towns
Weare vs South Berwick vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
South Berwick has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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.
| Measure | Weare | South Berwick | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
7,670 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 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+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
— |
| South Berwick and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 101% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— |
| 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.