Compare towns
Brookline vs Boston vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering BrooklineBrookline
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Boston has the most affordable homes ($732k median).
Newton has the most homeowners (70%).
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 | Brookline | Boston | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266Lowest |
666,442Highest |
89,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Newton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67k 122% above MA |
$731,700±$10kLowest 30% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
| Newton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$2,147±$25Lowest 22% above MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Boston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1947Highest 17 yrs older than MA |
1942 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Newton 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 | #22 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Boston Latin School | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 18.7Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.