Compare towns
Ashby vs Brookline 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
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Ashby | Brookline | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
5,736Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Mason and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brookline School District | Mason 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 |
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.