What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Thornton	Mason
People
Population	2,799Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH	43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Thornton and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.3%Highest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Thornton and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH	$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH	$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH
	Mason and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
	Mason and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,032Lowest 25% below NH	$7,049Highest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±24.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 15% below NH	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Thornton 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	#18 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Thornton 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.