What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Cornish has the shortest commute (24 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	Cornish
People
Population	1,451Lowest	1,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average	54±8.3Highest 25% above NH
	Cornish 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%	14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	40.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Mason and Cornish 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 12% above NH	$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH	$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH
	Mason and Cornish 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	$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 6% above NH	$5,796Lowest 13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	40.5%±38.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Cornish 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%	4.7% NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Mason School District	Cornish 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.