Compare towns
Brookline vs Easthampton vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most renters (53.1% rent).
Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Newton has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Easthampton | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266 |
16,086Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest 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%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Newton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67k 122% above MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below 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 |
$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.4% MA: 62.5% |
70%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1942 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 7% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Easthampton | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Easthampton High | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.