What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).

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	Brookfield	Brookline
People
Population	567Highest	531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S.	45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,406±$31kHighest about the U.S. average	$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average
	Brookfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S.	$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,732±$232 23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,926Highest 90% above U.S.	$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975 5 yrs older than U.S.	1975 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	13.7%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.