Compare towns
Mason vs Lawrence 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 kids (28.8% under 18).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% 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 | Lawrence | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
88,736Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% 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% |
26.3%±1.6Lowest 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% |
16.8%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% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Lawrence 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 38% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50Lowest 18% 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. |
$3,422Lowest 10% 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% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Lawrence 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | — | #278 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | Lawrence | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| 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.