Compare towns
Mason vs Mapleton vs Sidney vs Wilton
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Wilton has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Sidney | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
1,884 |
4,790Highest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
46.8±5.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Wilton 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilton and Sidney 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% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Wilton 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±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$114,349±$21kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Wilton 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±$21kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$381,500±$23k 15% above U.S. |
| Mason and Wilton 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. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,382±$70 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 126% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$7,612Highest 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Wilton 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Wilton 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 | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.