Compare towns
Mason vs Alstead vs Webster
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 oldest population (median age 56).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
1,551 |
2,227Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Webster 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 |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
| Mason and Webster 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 |
— | $1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
31 minLowest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley 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 | 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.