Compare towns
Mason vs Stratham vs Townsend vs Wilton
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Wilton has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
7,754 |
9,100Highest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%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. |
46.8±5.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Wilton 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% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest 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% |
22%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% 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%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Wilton 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 38% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$114,349±$21k 42% 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. |
$381,500±$23kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377 78% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,382±$70Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$7,612 144% 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% |
47.1%±39.9Lowest 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% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above 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%±5.2 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 | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Middlesex | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.