Compare towns
Mason vs Everett vs Brookline
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 the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
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 | Everett | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
50,045Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Mason and Brookline 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% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4 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+ | 15.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mason and Brookline 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% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1k 77% 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 | $7,049 126% above U.S. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | Everett | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.