Compare towns
Chichester vs Keene 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
Chichester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Keene | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,745 |
22,939Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±3.3 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
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 | 20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,297±$13k 10% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$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 | $2,055±$275 38% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below 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 | $7,189Highest 8% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,049 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±34.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest 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 | 6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 19%±8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Chichester School District | Keene School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.