Compare towns
Mason vs Lyndeborough vs Chichester vs Webster
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).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Chichester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Lyndeborough | Chichester | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
1,616 |
2,745Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
43±3.3Lowest about the NH average |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Webster 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Webster 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Chichester and Lyndeborough 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 |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$109,297±$13k 10% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Mason 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 |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$409,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% 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 |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$2,055±$275 38% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Mason and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 6% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$7,189Highest 8% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
39 min 46% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 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 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Chichester School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.