Compare towns
Barnstead vs Chichester vs Mason
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Chichester has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Barnstead | Chichester | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
2,745 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
43±3.3 about the NH average |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
| Mason and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$109,297±$13kLowest 10% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
| Barnstead and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$409,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
| Chichester and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,055±$275 38% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,189Highest 8% above NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Chichester School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.