Compare towns
Mason vs Lyme vs Chichester
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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Chichester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Lyme | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
1,710 |
2,745Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
43±3.3Lowest about the NH average |
| Lyme and Mason 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 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+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Chichester and Lyme 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$109,297±$13kLowest 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,055±$275 38% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 |
| School district | Mason School District | Lyme School District | Chichester 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.