Compare towns
Mason vs Barnstead 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 the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Barnstead | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
4,994Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Barnstead 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% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Barnstead 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% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Lyndeborough 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 |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Barnstead 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 |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% 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 |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,482±$457 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 |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,133Highest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
39 min 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #111 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Barnstead 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 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.