Compare towns
Mason vs Ripton vs Webster vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Ripton | Webster | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451 |
508Lowest |
2,227Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Webster 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Lyndeborough 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. |
— | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
| Mason and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 126% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
39 min 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mason School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Merrimack Valley School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.