Compare towns
Mason vs Auburn vs Pelham
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 the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Auburn | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
6,119 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Auburn 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Pelham and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Auburn and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Auburn and Pelham 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 |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Mason and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #44 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | Auburn School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.