Compare towns
Amherst vs Brookline vs Mason
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Amherst | Brookline | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
5,736 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| Amherst and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 22% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Brookline 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Brookline School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.