Compare towns
Mason vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
| Exeter and Webster 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
| Mason and Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Mason and Exeter 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.