Compare towns
Mason vs Douglas vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Douglas | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
9,207Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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 38% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Mason and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 126% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 28% above U.S. |
39 min 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Mason 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Douglas | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.