Compare towns
Mason vs Rye vs Townsend
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Rye | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
5,611 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Townsend 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Rye 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 38% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Rye and Townsend 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Mason and Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Townsend 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mason School District | Rye School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.