What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).

Standish has the shortest commute (29 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	Standish
People
Population	1,451Lowest	10,662Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Mason and Standish 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%	16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mason and Standish 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 U.S.: 35.7%	36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S.	$104,593±$15kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Mason and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S.	$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S.	$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 126% above U.S.	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.4%±22.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mason and Standish 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%	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 55% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mason and Standish 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	—	#18 of 133 in ME
School district	Mason School District	RSU 06/MSAD 06
High school in town	None in town	Bonny Eagle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.