What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acushnet has the most affordable homes ($436k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Acushnet	Brookline
People
Population	10,624Highest	5,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.8Highest 18% above U.S.	41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,503±$9kLowest 11% above U.S.	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,400±$34kLowest 31% above U.S.	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,170±$354Lowest 17% below U.S.	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.
	Brookline and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,647Lowest 49% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acushnet and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#118 of 282 in MA	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	Acushnet	Brookline School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.