Compare towns
Mason vs Chichester vs Lyndeborough vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Chichester has the most renters (14.4% rent).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Mason | Chichester | Lyndeborough | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
2,745Highest |
1,616 |
2,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
43±3.3Lowest about the NH average |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$109,297±$13kLowest 10% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
| Sutton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$409,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Chichester and Lyndeborough 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 |
$2,055±$275 38% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,656±$614 11% 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 | $7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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 | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
39 min 46% above NH |
29 minLowest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Chichester School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.