Compare towns
Mason vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Northbridge | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
16,458Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
16.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northbridge and Mason 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% |
36.9%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% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below 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. |
$4,821Lowest 55% 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% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | Northbridge | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.