Compare towns
Brookline vs Walpole 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%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 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 | Walpole | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
3,690 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| Walpole 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 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Walpole 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 |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% 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 |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Mason 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.