What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

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	Gilsum	Mason
People
Population	716Lowest	1,451Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.8±8.1Highest 3% above NH	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average
	Gilsum and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.3%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Gilsum and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Gilsum and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH	$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH	$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$894Lowest 6% above NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
	Mason and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,579Lowest 16% below NH	$7,049Highest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.5%±55.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Monadnock Regional 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.