Compare towns
Mason vs Exeter vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Exeter | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Exeter 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 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 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+ | 15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% 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 | $7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.