Compare towns
Mason vs Windham vs Chichester vs Lyndeborough
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Chichester has the most renters (14.4% rent).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Windham | Chichester | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
16,038Highest |
2,745 |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
43±3.3 about the NH average |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Chichester and Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$109,297±$13kLowest 10% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852 70% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,055±$275 38% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
| Windham and Mason 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 |
$7,133 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
39 min 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Windham School District | Chichester School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.