What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mason	Middlesex
People
Population	1,451Lowest	1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S.
	Middlesex 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%	21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mason and Middlesex 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%	20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middlesex 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex and Mason 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.	$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S.
	Mason and Middlesex 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.	$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Mason and Middlesex 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.	$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S.
	Mason and Middlesex 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.	$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mason and Middlesex 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%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 55% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mason School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.