What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the shortest commute (34 min average).

Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Mason
People
Population	2,135Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46±11.6Highest 6% above NH	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average
	Andover and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	28.1%±7.7Highest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.2Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Andover and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,514±$27kLowest 11% below NH	$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH
	Mason and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,500±$44kLowest 9% below NH	$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH
	Mason and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,211±$190Lowest 19% below NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,962Lowest 11% below NH	$7,049Highest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 28% above NH	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Andover School District	Mason School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.