Compare towns
Brookline vs Mason vs Northfield
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 kids (28.8% under 18).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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 | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
1,451Lowest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
| Mason and Northfield 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% |
20.3%±4.9Lowest 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% |
17.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Northfield 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% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Northfield 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 |
$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% 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 |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest 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 | — | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Mason School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.