Mason

Hillsborough CountyMerrimack ValleyPopulation: 1,448

Overview

Mason is a small, rural town in Hillsborough County near the Massachusetts border, with forested hills and a modest historic village center. The town has no significant commercial development.

Mason's rural roads connect to Wilton and Greenville for shopping and services, while the surrounding countryside offers hiking and hunting. The town's low density keeps it quiet despite its border location.

Housing in Mason remains affordable, drawing families and commuters who want rural space near the Massachusetts border.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Rural character
  • Affordable
  • MA border
  • Quiet

Cons

  • No downtown
  • Limited services
  • Small population

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Mason.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$25.05
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$14.78
Equalization ratio: 59%
Municipal
$9.07
Local School
$12.89
State Education
$1.58
County
$1.51

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$25.05$14.78$9.07$12.89$1.58$1.51

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$6,263$522
$350,000$8,768$731
$500,000$12,525$1,044
$750,000$18,788$1,566
$1,000,000$25,050$2,088

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $25.05 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
79.8°F
Winter Avg High
36.5°F
Annual Snowfall
56 in
Annual Rainfall
52.2 in
Sunny Days/Year
267
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5Updated 7/4/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
62 mi
~87 min drive
Manchester
31 mi
~59 min drive
Portsmouth
80 mi
~109 min drive
Concord
47 mi
~79 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMapUpdated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score
10/10
Crime Rate
4.83/1,000
Crime Trend
stable
Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer - https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
34/100
Trail Miles
16.6
0
Boat Launches
1
State Parks
2
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:1 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:2

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income
$103,438
Per Capita Income
$47,017
Median Family Income
$112,321

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$343,400
Median Rent
$2,000/mo
Homeownership Rate
91.26%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate
3.46%
In Labor Force
781

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.46%
Total with Degree
185

👥Demographics

Median Age
43.7 years
Avg Household Size
2.67 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year)Census Data Year: 2022Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Mason with Other Towns

See how Mason stacks up against other NH communities.