Compare towns
Mason vs Brentwood vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Mason | Brentwood | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
4,641 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
43.8±3.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brentwood and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$165,509±$23kHighest 105% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$528,100±$75kHighest 59% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,217±$654 57% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Mason and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 126% above U.S. |
$9,713Highest 211% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.9%±37.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brentwood 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 | — | #16 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mason School District | Brentwood School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.