Compare towns
Chichester vs Mason vs Newfields vs Townsend
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Mason | Newfields | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,745 |
1,451Lowest |
2,023 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±3.3 11% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Townsend 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% |
15.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chichester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,297±$13kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,300±$26k 23% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,055±$275 45% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% 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 | $7,189 130% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±34.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chichester School District | Mason School District | Newfields School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.