Compare towns
Windham vs Mason vs Worcester 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
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Brookline has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Windham | Mason | Worcester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,451Highest |
831 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 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+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Mason and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% 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 | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mason School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.