What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).

New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

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 Hampton
People
Population	1,451Lowest	2,509Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average	51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%	13.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6%
	New Hampton 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	$95,250±$35kLowest 4% below NH
	Mason and New Hampton 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	$383,700±$37kLowest 5% below NH
	Mason and New Hampton 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	$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 6% above NH	$4,973Lowest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	13.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	87.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH	1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	33 minLowest 22% above NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	11.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Mason School District	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.