Compare towns
Townsend vs Mason vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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.
| Measure | Townsend | Mason | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
1,451Lowest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
— |
| Mason and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Alstead 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Mason School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.