What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).

Candia has the shortest commute (34 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	Candia
People
Population	1,451Lowest	4,134Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average	48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH
	Candia 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%	12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH	$119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH
	Candia 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±$21kLowest 5% below NH	$415,600±$46kHighest 3% above NH
	Candia 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	$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH
	Mason and Candia 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	$6,100Lowest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1979Lowest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	34 minLowest 29% above NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#41 of 120 in NH
School district	Mason School District	Candia School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.