Compare towns
Mason vs Temple 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).
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Chichester has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Temple | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451 |
1,363Lowest |
2,745Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
43±3.3Lowest about the NH average |
| Temple 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% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest 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% |
17.8%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Temple and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Chichester and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$94,107±$15kLowest 5% below NH |
$109,297±$13k 10% 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 | $384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$401,000±$27k about the NH average |
$409,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Chichester and Temple 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 |
$1,169±$523Lowest 22% 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 | $7,049 6% above NH |
$6,983Lowest 5% above NH |
$7,189Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
37 min 37% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8 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 | Contoocook Valley 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.