Compare towns
Arlington vs Brookline vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most homeowners (61.6%).
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 | Arlington | Brookline | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,350Lowest |
63,266Highest |
63,266Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest 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 |
35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest 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% |
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% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3Highest 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 |
$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 |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,604Lowest 60% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% 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% |
46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
46.9%Lowest 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 |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2Lowest 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 | #22 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Arlington | — | Brookline |
| High school in town | Arlington High | — | Brookline High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.