What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Acushnet has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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	Mason	Acushnet
People
Population	1,451Lowest	10,624Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	46±2.8Highest 18% above U.S.
	Acushnet and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mason and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Acushnet and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S.	$89,503±$9kLowest 11% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S.	$436,400±$34kHighest 31% above U.S.
	Acushnet and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S.	$1,170±$354Lowest 17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 126% above U.S.	$4,647Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	65.4%±15.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mason and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 55% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#118 of 282 in MA
School district	Mason School District	Acushnet
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.