What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Raymond has the most people working from home (32.3%).

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	Raymond
People
Population	1,451Lowest	4,610Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	47.3±4.1Highest 22% above U.S.
	Raymond 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 U.S.: 22%	19.1%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mason and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Raymond 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 U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Raymond 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 38% above U.S.	$88,194±$20kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Mason and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S.	$395,800±$42kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Raymond 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.	$965±$397Lowest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 126% above U.S.	$3,139Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.3%±62.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mason and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 55% above U.S.	37 minLowest 40% above U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.3%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Raymond 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	—	#112 of 133 in ME
School district	Mason School District	RSU 14
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.