Compare towns
Auburn vs Brookline vs Mason vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Auburn | Brookline | Mason | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
5,736 |
1,451Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 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+ | 13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Lowest 27% above NH |
$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 | $8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Brookline School District | Mason School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.