Compare towns
Mason vs Hooksett vs Ashby
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Hooksett | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
15,057Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Mason and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Ashby 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mason School District | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.