Compare towns
Mason vs Webster vs Brookline vs Lyndeborough
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 kids (28.8% under 18).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Webster | Brookline | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
2,227 |
5,736Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Webster 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% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest 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% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Lyndeborough 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 |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
| 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 6% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
31 minLowest 14% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
39 min 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Brookline School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.