Compare towns
Boston vs Everett vs Brookline vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Brookline has the most homeowners (46.9%).
Cambridge has the youngest population (median age 30.4).
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 | Everett | Brookline | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
50,045Lowest |
63,266 |
118,796 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2 17% below MA |
35.2±1.5Highest 12% below MA |
35.2±1.2Highest 12% below MA |
30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
80.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$142,101±$8kHighest 37% above MA |
$130,748±$4k 26% above MA |
| Brookline and Cambridge 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 |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$1,092,100±$42k 94% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25 22% above MA |
$2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,802 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
45%±2.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Boston 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% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
8.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
46.9%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 |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #22 of 282 in MA | #122 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Everett | — | Cambridge |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Everett High | — | Cambridge Rindge and Latin |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.1 |
— | 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.