Compare towns
Unity vs Mason vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Unity | Mason | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
1,451 |
4,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
41.6±8.5Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±5.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Charlestown and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
$228,000±$62kLowest 43% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804 9% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,099±$85Lowest 26% below NH |
| Mason and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394 19% below NH |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$5,143Lowest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
65%±24.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | Mason School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.