What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k 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	Hampton	Mason
People
Population	10,101Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Hampton and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average	$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH	$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,654±$93Lowest 11% above NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
	Mason and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,872Lowest 3% above NH	$7,049Highest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±13.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest same as NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below NH	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Hampton 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	#31 of 120 in NH	—
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.