What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).

Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Easthampton
People
Population	63,266Highest	16,086Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4%	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Brookline and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	38%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$142,101±$8kHighest 37% above MA	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA	$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA	$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,932Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8%	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Brookline and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest MA: 10%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	58.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 7% below MA	22 minLowest 23% below MA
Work from home	30.1%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 282 in MA	#92 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Easthampton
High school in town	—	Easthampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.