Compare towns
Mason vs Gilsum vs Wilton
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).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Wilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Gilsum | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451 |
716Lowest |
3,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
46.8±5.2Highest 8% above NH |
| Wilton and Gilsum 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%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22%±6.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilton and Gilsum 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% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Wilton and Gilsum 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 |
$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH |
$114,349±$21kHighest 15% above NH |
| Wilton 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 |
$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH |
$381,500±$23k 5% below NH |
| Mason and Wilton 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 |
$1,575±$894 6% above NH |
$1,382±$70Lowest 7% below NH |
| Mason and Gilsum 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 |
$5,579Lowest 16% below NH |
$7,612Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4 NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Gilsum 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% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Wilton 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 | — | — | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.