Compare towns
Mason vs Nottingham vs Surry 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 the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Nottingham has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Nottingham | Surry | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451 |
5,357Highest |
1,052Lowest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Surry and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
| Nottingham 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 5% below NH |
$457,500±$26kHighest 14% above NH |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$1,955±$374 31% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Mason and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 6% above NH |
$7,319Highest 10% above NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Mason 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% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham and Mason 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 | — | #15 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Nottingham 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 | 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.