What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).

Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).

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	Hampstead	Mason
People
Population	9,102Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average
	Hampstead and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Mason and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH	$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH
	Hampstead and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH	$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 30% above NH	$7,049Lowest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988 9 yrs newer than NH	1988 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 13% above NH	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hampstead 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	#49 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Hampstead 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.