What stands out worked out from the figures below

Loudon has the shortest commute (30 min average).

Mason has the most people working from home (20.7%).

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	Loudon	Mason
People
Population	5,692Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	22%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Loudon and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Mason and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,966±$16kLowest 8% above NH	$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH
	Mason and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,400±$48kLowest 10% below NH	$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH
	Mason and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
	Mason and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,821Lowest 13% below NH	$7,049Highest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±30.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.6%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 14% above NH	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#99 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Merrimack 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.