Compare towns
Brookline vs Mason vs Andover
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 most affordable homes ($291k median).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,451Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Mason and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Mason and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Mason and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mason School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.