What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).

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

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	Portsmouth	Mason
People
Population	22,545Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±2Lowest about the NH average	43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average
	Mason and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64%Highest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Portsmouth and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH	$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH
	Mason and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH	$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Lowest 25% above NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
	Mason and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Highest 20% above NH	$7,049Lowest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Portsmouth 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	#11 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Portsmouth School District	Mason School District
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
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.