Compare towns
Boston vs Brookline vs Sutton vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
Cambridge is a college town. 25.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Boston | Brookline | Sutton | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
63,266 |
9,452Lowest |
118,796 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2 17% below MA |
35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$130,748±$4k 26% above MA |
| Sutton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,092,100±$42k 94% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25 22% above MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,787±$48 58% above MA |
| Brookline and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,802 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45%±2.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Boston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7% MA: 62.5% |
46.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.8%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Cambridge 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #22 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #122 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Brookline | Sutton | Cambridge |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Brookline High | Sutton High School | Cambridge Rindge and Latin |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
11.9 |
12.6 |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.