Compare towns
Mason vs Townsend vs Windham vs Surry
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 most renters (18% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Surry has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Windham | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451 |
9,100 |
16,038Highest |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Surry 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Townsend 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% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%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% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry 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±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852 79% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,955±$374 38% above U.S. |
| Windham and Mason 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Windham 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | North Middlesex | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.