Compare towns
Mason vs Pembroke vs Temple
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%).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Pembroke | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451 |
7,438Highest |
1,363Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Temple and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Temple and Pembroke 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% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pembroke 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 |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$94,107±$15k 5% below NH |
| Mason and Temple 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 |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$401,000±$27kHighest about the NH average |
| Temple 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 |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 6% above NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$6,983Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
37 min 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Pembroke 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 | — | #85 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Pembroke School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.