Compare towns
Mason vs Webster vs Brookline vs Wilton
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%).
Wilton has the most renters (23% rent).
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 | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
2,227 |
5,736Highest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% 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 |
46.8±5.2Highest 8% above NH |
| Wilton 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% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest 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%±6.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.9% 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% |
4.5%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Wilton 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 |
$114,349±$21k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$381,500±$23k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,382±$70Lowest 7% below NH |
| 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 |
$7,612 14% 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% |
47.1%±39.9 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% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
77%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
30 minLowest 12% 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%±5.2Lowest 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 | #54 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 | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.