Compare towns
Brookline vs Windham vs Worcester 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 the highest household income ($171k).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Windham | Worcester | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
1,451 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Worcester 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Brookline 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. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below 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. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 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. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Worcester 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.