Compare towns
Mason vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
8,479Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Webster 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Webster and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Mason and Hanover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Hanover 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | — | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.