Compare towns
Mason vs Townsend vs Lyndeborough 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).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Townsend | Lyndeborough | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,616 |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Townsend 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
39 min 48% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mason School District | North Middlesex | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.