Compare towns
Mason vs Barnstead 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 the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
4,994Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Webster 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% |
21%±5Lowest 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% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead 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±$3k 12% above NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
| Barnstead 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±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Mason and Barnstead 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 |
$1,396±$622 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 |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Webster 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
31 minLowest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #111 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Barnstead School District | Merrimack Valley 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.