Compare towns
Brookline vs Mason vs Derry
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%).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Mason | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
1,451Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest 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% |
15.6%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Mason and Derry 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% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Derry 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 |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% 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 |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Derry 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Mason School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.