What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).

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	Temple
People
Population	1,451Highest	1,363Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average	49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH
	Temple 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%	14.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	17.8%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Temple 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Mason and Temple 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 12% above NH	$94,107±$15kLowest 5% below NH
	Mason and Temple 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	$401,000±$27kHighest about the NH average
	Temple 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	$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH
	Mason and Temple 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	$6,983Lowest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Temple 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%	9.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	37 minLowest 37% above NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	16.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mason School District	Contoocook Valley 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.