What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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	Hampton Beach	Mason
People
Population	2,605Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Mason and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH	$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH	$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,115Lowest 8% below NH	$7,049Highest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below NH	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hampton Beach and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Mason School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.