What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hill has the most affordable homes ($312k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mason	Hill
People
Population	1,451Highest	908Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average	49.1±6.8Highest 13% above NH
	Hill 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%	10.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.5%±2.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	2.6%±1.6Highest NH: 6%
	Hill and Mason 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	$82,125±$21kLowest 17% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH	$311,700±$41kLowest 23% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,530±$852 70% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 6% above NH	$4,933Lowest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Hill 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%	9.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	35 minLowest 32% above NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	9.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Mason School District	Hill 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.