What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Strafford
People
Population	1,451Lowest	4,306Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average	46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH
	Strafford and Mason 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%	17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Strafford and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	40.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Strafford 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	$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH
	Strafford 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±$21kLowest 5% below NH	$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH
	Strafford and Mason 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	$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH
	Mason and Strafford 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	$6,086Lowest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	76.3%±30.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Strafford 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%	8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	36 minLowest 34% above NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Strafford 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	—	#73 of 120 in NH
School district	Mason School District	Strafford 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.