Compare towns
Mason vs Mapleton vs Lyndeborough vs Webster
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Mapleton | Lyndeborough | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
1,884 |
1,616 |
2,227Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Lyndeborough 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 38% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
| Lyndeborough and Mason 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
| Mason and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 126% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
39 min 48% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mason School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.