Compare towns
Mason vs Mapleton vs Rochester
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 people working from home (20.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
1,884 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Mason and Rochester 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% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Mapleton 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% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%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% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Rochester 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 38% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Mason and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,334 71% 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% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
| 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.