Compare towns

Stratham vs Mason vs Windham vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Brookline has the most homeowners (95.1%).

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.

MeasureStrathamMasonWindhamBrookline
People
Population
7,754
1,451Lowest
16,038Highest
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+4.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+13%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.6±4.9
4% below NH
43.7±2.3Highest
about the NH average
41.1±2.9Lowest
5% below NH
41.2±1.5
5% below NH
Mason and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
28.8%±6.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
26.7%±4
NH: 18.2%
Mason and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.6%±2.1
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Stratham and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
39.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
62.7%
NH: 40.6%
57.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7
NH: 6%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8
NH: 6%
6.3%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,998±$20k
53% above NH
$111,090±$3kLowest
12% above NH
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
$171,046±$4k
73% above NH
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36k
63% above NH
$384,000±$21kLowest
5% below NH
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
$544,400±$38k
35% above NH
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377
68% above NH
$2,530±$852
70% above NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
$2,500±$1kLowest
68% above NH
Windham and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781
47% above NH
$7,049Lowest
6% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2
NH: 48.2%
87.2%±42.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Mason and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%
NH: 7.2%
4.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2%
NH: 7.2%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
NH: 72.8%
90.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Lowest
7 yrs newer than NH
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
1993
14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
41 minHighest
53% above NH
31 min
15% above NH
33 min
25% above NH
Work from home
25.3%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
20.7%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4
NH: 16.8%
24.7%±5.8
NH: 16.8%
Stratham and Brookline 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 #43 of 120 in NH — #13 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Mason School District Windham School District Brookline School District
High school in town None in town None in town Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
—
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.