Compare towns
Wilton vs Reading vs Mason
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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.
| Measure | Wilton | Reading | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,960Highest |
699Lowest |
1,451 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5.2 20% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Reading and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,349±$21kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $381,500±$23k 15% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Mason and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,382±$70 about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,612Highest 144% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.1%±39.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | #54 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mason School District |
| High school in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.