Compare towns
Mason vs Mapleton vs Surry 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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Surry has the shortest commute (22 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 | Mapleton | Surry | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451 |
1,884 |
1,052Lowest |
5,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Surry 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Mapleton 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%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%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Brookline 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25k 36% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374 38% 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,384 105% 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% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Surry 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 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 | — | — | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.