What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).

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	Temple	Mason
People
Population	1,363Lowest	1,451Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average
	Temple and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Temple and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Mason and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,107±$15kLowest 5% below NH	$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH
	Mason and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,000±$27kHighest about the NH average	$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH
	Temple and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
	Mason and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Lowest 5% above NH	$7,049Highest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minLowest 37% above NH	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Mason and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley 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.