What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Madbury	Mason
People
Population	2,203Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH	43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average
Kids under 18	29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Madbury and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Mason and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Madbury and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH	$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH	$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
	Mason and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$7,049Lowest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	4.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer 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	14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Oyster River Coop 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.