What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

New Durham has the shortest commute (35 min average).

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	New Durham
People
Population	1,451Lowest	2,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average	46.5±7.5Highest 7% above NH
	New Durham 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%	14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	23.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	34.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Mason and New Durham 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	$100,194±$13kLowest about the NH average
	Mason and New Durham 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	$339,400±$27kLowest 16% below NH
	Mason and New Durham 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	$1,417±$116Lowest 5% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 6% above NH	$5,774Lowest 13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	25%±42.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	35 minLowest 30% above NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	10%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Mason School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.