Compare towns
Brookline vs Manchester vs Mason vs Lee
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%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Manchester | Mason | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
115,643Highest |
1,451Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 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% |
18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 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% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest 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% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Manchester 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 73% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Brookline and Lee 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 |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Brookline and Lee 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 |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Manchester 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH | — | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Mason School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.