Compare towns
Chichester vs Thornton 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 the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Thornton | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,745 |
2,799Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±3.3Lowest about the NH average |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Chichester 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 10% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% 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 |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% 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 |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% 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 |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±34.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 19%±8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Chichester School District | Thornton School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.