What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).

Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mason	Thornton
People
Population	1,451Lowest	2,799Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average	51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%	13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	19%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Thornton 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	46.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Thornton 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 12% above NH	$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH	$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH
	Mason and Thornton 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	$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH
	Mason and Thornton 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	$5,032Lowest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±24.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Thornton 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%	9.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Thornton 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	—	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Mason School District	Thornton 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.