Compare towns
Wilton vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Strafford | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,960Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,451 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5.2 20% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Wilton 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. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% 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±$23kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mason 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,612Highest 144% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$7,049Lowest 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.1%±39.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Wilton 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Wilton 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 | Strafford School District | 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.