Compare towns
Brookline vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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 | Brookline |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 63,266 |
63,266 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 85.4% MA: 47.3% |
85.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
$142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67k 122% above MA |
$1,246,800±$67k 122% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,835±$82 61% above MA |
$2,835±$82 61% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8.7% MA: 10% |
8.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9% MA: 62.5% |
46.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938 26 yrs older than MA |
1938 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 282 in MA | #22 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Brookline |
| High school in town | — | Brookline High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.