Compare towns
Chichester vs Berwick vs Bennington vs Mason
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chichester has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Chichester | Berwick | Bennington | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,745 |
8,175Highest |
1,588 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±3.3 11% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Mason and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chichester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,297±$13k 35% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Mason and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,300±$26kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
| Chichester and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,055±$275 45% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Mason and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,189Highest 130% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±34.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Chichester School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Contoocook Valley School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.