Compare towns
Brookline vs Newton vs Upton vs Somerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Newton has the highest household income ($190k).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Somerville has the most renters (65.8% 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Newton | Upton | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 63,266 |
89,044Highest |
8,189Lowest |
81,036 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
31.9±0.6Lowest 20% below MA |
| Upton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Newton 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% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Newton 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.8%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Somerville and Newton 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 |
$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$132,572±$6kLowest 28% above MA |
| Newton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67k 122% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$911,300±$26k 62% 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 |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,517±$64 43% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,186Lowest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9% MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1942 22 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.3%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Newton and Somerville 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #225 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Newton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Somerville |
| High school in town | — | Newton North High | Blackstone Valley | Somerville High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.