Compare towns

Boston vs Killingly vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).

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.

MeasureBostonKillinglyBrookline
People
Population
666,442Highest
17,867Lowest
63,266
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.3±0.2Lowest
14% below U.S.
39.5±3Highest
about the U.S. average
35.2±1.2
10% below U.S.
Kids under 18
15.1%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±1.4
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15%±0.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
10.8%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,344±$2k
21% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$142,101±$8kHighest
76% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$731,700±$10k
120% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$1,246,800±$67kHighest
275% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,147±$25
52% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,835±$82Highest
101% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,456
43% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±4
U.S.: 51.1%
Boston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
46.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
21.3%±0.5
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.1%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #258 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #22 of 282 in MA
School district Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS —
High school in town Boston Latin School Killingly High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
18.7Highest
11.1Lowest
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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.