Compare towns
Mason vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Middlesex | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
1,943 |
2,227Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Webster and Middlesex 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% |
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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%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%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Webster 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±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% 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±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
| Mason and Webster 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest 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 | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.