Compare towns
Mason vs Northfield vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Northfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Northfield | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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 79% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
| Mason and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 126% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
39 min 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Lyndeborough 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.