Compare towns
Brookline vs Brewer 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
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 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 | Brookline | Brewer | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
9,652Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Mason and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | Brewer Public Schools | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| 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.