Compare towns
Arlington vs Brookline vs Natick
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 people working from home (34.5%).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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.
| Measure | Arlington | Brookline | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,350 |
63,266Highest |
36,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
| Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.1% MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA |
$142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% 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±$23k 66% above MA |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,604 60% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,914Lowest 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Brookline and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6% MA: 62.5% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Lowest 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 | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Arlington | — | Natick |
| High school in town | Arlington High | — | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.