What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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	Strafford
People
Population	1,451Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mason and Strafford 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%	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	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±$3kHighest 38% above U.S.	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Mason and Strafford 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.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
	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 79% above U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Mason and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Lowest 126% above U.S.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Lowest 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.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mason and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mason School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.