Compare towns
Brookline vs Rye vs Townsend vs Mason
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Rye | Townsend | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
5,611 |
9,100Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Townsend 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above 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. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Townsend 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Brookline 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | Rye School District | North Middlesex | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.