Compare towns
Brookline vs Deerfield vs Durham 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
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Deerfield | Durham | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
4,932 |
15,080Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
| Mason and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Deerfield and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
47.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
| Brookline and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,369 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
34 min 28% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.