Compare towns
Mason vs Merrimack 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).
Merrimack has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Merrimack | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
28,164Highest |
2,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
43±3.3 about the NH average |
| Mason and Chichester 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% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chichester and Merrimack 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% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Merrimack 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 |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
$109,297±$13kLowest 10% above NH |
| Merrimack 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±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,932±$147Lowest 30% above 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 |
$7,345Highest 10% above NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest 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% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack 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 | — | #58 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | Merrimack School District | Chichester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.