What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).

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	Hancock	Mason
People
Population	1,791Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Hancock and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH	$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH
	Mason and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH	$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
	Mason and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Lowest 3% above NH	$7,049Highest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 24% above NH	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley 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.