What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Strafford	Mason
People
Population	4,306Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average
	Strafford and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Strafford and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Strafford and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH	$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH
	Strafford and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH	$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH
	Strafford and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
	Mason and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,086Lowest 9% below NH	$7,049Highest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.3%±30.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 34% above NH	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Strafford 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	#73 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Strafford 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.