Compare towns
Mason vs Nelson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451 |
648Lowest |
2,227Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest 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±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Webster 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 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Lowest 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% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest 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% |
3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Webster 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 12% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
| Mason and Webster 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 |
$338,500±$30kLowest 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 |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
| 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 6% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest 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 |
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.