What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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	Berkley	Brookline
People
Population	6,829Highest	5,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.4±4.1Highest 12% above U.S.	41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Berkley and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Berkley and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$144,205±$49kLowest 79% above U.S.	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.
	Brookline and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$511,200±$45kLowest 54% above U.S.	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.
	Brookline and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,500±$1k 77% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,018Lowest 93% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	23.8%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brookline and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	95.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#155 of 282 in MA	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	Berkley	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.