What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Durham has the shortest commute (35 min average).

Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	New Durham	Mason
People
Population	2,748Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.5±7.5Highest 7% above NH	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average
	New Durham and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	23.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Mason and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,194±$13kLowest about the NH average	$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH
	Mason and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$339,400±$27kLowest 16% below NH	$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH
	Mason and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,417±$116Lowest 5% below NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,774Lowest 13% below NH	$7,049Highest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±42.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 30% above NH	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	10%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Mason 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.