Compare towns
Mason vs Strafford vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Strafford | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451 |
1,372Lowest |
1,616Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Lyndeborough 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% 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% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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 15% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Lyndeborough 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. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
| Mason and Lyndeborough 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. |
$7,133 129% 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% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
39 min 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Lyndeborough 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 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.