Compare towns
Mason vs New Ipswich 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%).
New Ipswich has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
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 | New Ipswich | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
5,310Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
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%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Webster and New Ipswich 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 |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
| Mason and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$392,400±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| New Ipswich and Mason 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 |
$882±$469Lowest 41% 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 |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and New Ipswich 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% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
31 minLowest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #82 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.