What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has the most homeowners (61.6%).

Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).

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	Arlington	Brookline
People
Population	46,350Lowest	63,266Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±1.3Highest 4% above MA	35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	20.5%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Arlington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Arlington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA	$142,101±$8kLowest 37% above MA
	Arlington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,800±$23kLowest 66% above MA	$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA	$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,604Lowest 60% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Highest 19 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Arlington 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	#29 of 282 in MA	#22 of 282 in MA
School district	Arlington	—
High school in town	Arlington High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.