Compare towns

Brookline vs Enfield vs Suffield vs Boston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).

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.

MeasureBrooklineEnfieldSuffieldBoston
People
Population
63,266
41,090
15,702Lowest
666,442Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.2
10% below U.S.
40.7±1.9
5% above U.S.
44.5±1.7Highest
14% above U.S.
33.3±0.2Lowest
14% below U.S.
Kids under 18
18.7%±1.4
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Enfield 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
U.S.: 17.2%
18%±1.2
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Suffield and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.8%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
15%±0.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$142,101±$8kHighest
76% above U.S.
$90,404±$5kLowest
12% above U.S.
$119,472±$13k
48% above U.S.
$97,344±$2k
21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,246,800±$67kHighest
275% above U.S.
$252,900±$7kLowest
24% below U.S.
$407,500±$26k
22% above U.S.
$731,700±$10k
120% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,835±$82Highest
101% above U.S.
$1,574±$83
11% above U.S.
$1,424±$141Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,147±$25
52% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,360
72% above U.S.
$6,456
107% above U.S.
$4,456Lowest
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±4
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51%±4.6
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Boston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
46.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
26 min
3% below U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
Work from home
30.1%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.4%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±0.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #22 of 282 in MA #123 of 149 in CT #57 of 149 in CT #258 of 282 in MA
School district — Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District Suffield School District Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston
High school in town — Enfield High School Suffield High School Boston Latin School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.5
10.9Lowest
18.7Highest
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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.