Compare towns
Mason vs Nelson vs Surry vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Nelson | Surry | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451 |
648Lowest |
1,052 |
2,227Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Surry 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 12% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
| Mason and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,955±$374 31% above NH |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson School District | — | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.