What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orange has the shortest commute (28 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	Orange
People
Population	1,451Highest	320Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average	41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH
	Mason and Orange 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%	20.6%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Mason and Orange 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%	20%±5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Orange and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6%
	Orange 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±$3kLowest 12% above NH	$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH
	Orange 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±$21kHighest 5% below NH	$302,600±$35kLowest 25% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,530±$852 70% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 6% above NH	$5,132Lowest 23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Orange 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%	9.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	28 minLowest 5% above NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Orange and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mason School District	—
High school 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.