Compare towns
Brookline vs Pembroke vs Mason
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%).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Pembroke | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
7,438Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
| Mason and Pembroke 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% |
24%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest 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% |
16.4%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Pembroke 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% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Pembroke 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 |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below 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 |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | Pembroke School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.