Compare towns
Brookline vs Mason vs Meredith
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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
1,451Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Meredith 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Brookline and Meredith 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 |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% 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 |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Meredith 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% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Mason School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.