What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Washington
People
Population	1,451Highest	1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average	55±4.7Highest 27% above NH
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%	13.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	29%±3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	32%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
	Washington 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	$89,453±$12kLowest 10% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH	$358,600±$32kLowest 11% below NH
	Mason and Washington 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	$1,106±$160Lowest 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 6% above NH	$4,321Lowest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Washington 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%	8.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 53% above NH	36 minLowest 33% above NH
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mason School District	Washington 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.