What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).

Alexandria has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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	Alexandria
People
Population	1,451Lowest	1,983Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+10.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average	52.6±5Highest 21% above NH
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%	14.3%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.2%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	25.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	2.2%±1.5Highest NH: 6%
	Alexandria 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 12% above NH	$89,194±$8kLowest 10% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH	$323,300±$27kLowest 20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH	$1,135±$273Lowest 24% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 6% above NH	$5,021Lowest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	55.6%±40.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	37 minLowest 37% above NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	17.4%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
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.