Compare towns
Mason vs Stratham vs Townsend vs Surry
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 the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Stratham | Townsend | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451 |
7,754 |
9,100Highest |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Surry 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Townsend 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377 78% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,955±$374 38% above U.S. |
| Mason and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 126% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Mason 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.