Compare towns
Brookline vs Lee vs Mason vs Mont Vernon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Lee has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Mont Vernon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Lee | Mason | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
4,576 |
1,451Lowest |
2,636 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
| Mason and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Mont Vernon 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 73% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
| Brookline and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Brookline and Mont Vernon 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 |
— | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Mont Vernon 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mason School District | Mont Vernon 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 | 10 photos → | 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.