Compare towns
Mason vs Alstead vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
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.
| Measure | Mason | Alstead | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
1,551 |
1,616Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
50±3.2 15% above NH |
| Alstead and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Lyndeborough and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$390,900±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Lyndeborough 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 70% above NH |
— | $1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
| Mason and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 6% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$7,133Highest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
32 minLowest 19% above NH |
39 min 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Lyndeborough 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 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.