Compare towns
Arlington vs Brookline vs Everett
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%).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,350Lowest |
63,266Highest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Arlington 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%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA |
$142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below 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 |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,082±$76 18% above MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,604 60% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Brookline 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% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
46.9% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%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 min 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±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 | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Arlington | Brookline | Everett |
| High school in town | Arlington High | Brookline High | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.1 |
| 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.