What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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	Alstead
People
Population	1,451Lowest	1,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead 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	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,530±$852 70% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 6% above NH	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Alstead 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%	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	32 minLowest 19% above NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mason School District	Fall Mountain Regional 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.