Compare towns
Mason vs Lee vs New Ipswich
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
New Ipswich has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
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 | Lee | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
4,576 |
5,310Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
| Mason and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Mason 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Lee and New Ipswich 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$110,507±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Lee 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±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
| Lee and New Ipswich 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 |
— | $882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 6% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 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.