What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salisbury has the shortest commute (32 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	Salisbury
People
Population	1,451Lowest	1,609Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average	51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%	20.1%±9.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Mason and Salisbury 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%	24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	2%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Salisbury 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	$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH
	Salisbury 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±$21kHighest 5% below NH	$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH
	Mason and Salisbury 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	$1,917±$632Lowest 29% above NH
	Mason and Salisbury 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	$5,859Lowest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Salisbury 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%	7.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	32 minLowest 20% above NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Salisbury and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mason School District	Merrimack Valley 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.