Compare towns
Mason vs Townsend vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
9,100 |
16,151Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%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. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest 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%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Mason and Exeter 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% 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% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Exeter 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% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older 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. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.