Compare towns
Mason vs Salem vs Webster
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 the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Salem | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
30,964Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Webster and Salem 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Webster and Salem 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% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Salem and Webster 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 |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
| Mason and Salem 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 |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Mason and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Webster 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Salem School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.