What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 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	Plainfield
People
Population	1,451Lowest	2,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average	38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH
	Mason and Plainfield 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%	23.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Mason and Plainfield 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%	19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Plainfield 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	46.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6%
	Plainfield 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	$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH
	Plainfield 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±$21kLowest 5% below NH	$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH
	Plainfield 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	$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH
	Mason and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Lowest 6% above NH	$7,904Highest 19% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Plainfield 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%	5.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	22 minLowest 18% below NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Plainfield 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	—	#19 of 120 in NH
School district	Mason School District	Plainfield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.