Compare towns
Mason vs Townsend vs Epping vs Webster
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).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Townsend | Epping | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
9,100Highest |
7,430 |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
| Epping and Webster 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Webster 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Webster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Townsend 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. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Mason and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | North Middlesex | Epping School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.