Compare towns
Epping vs Mason vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Epping | Mason | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
1,451Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Epping and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Epping and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Mason and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Epping School District | Mason School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.