Compare towns
Brookline vs Mason vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
1,451Lowest |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Upton 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 112% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,049Lowest 126% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Mason School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.