Compare towns
Chester vs Mason vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Chester | Mason | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
1,451Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Chester and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Chester and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Mason and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Mason 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Mason School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.