What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has the highest household income ($111k).

Barnard has the shortest commute (29 min average).

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	Barnard
People
Population	1,451Highest	1,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Mason and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%	26.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mason and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barnard 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 38% above U.S.	$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S.
	Mason and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S.	$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S.
	Barnard 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 79% above U.S.	$1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 126% above U.S.	$6,038Lowest 94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mason and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 55% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mason and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mason School District	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.