What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Arlington has the most homeowners (61.6%).

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	Arlington
People
Population	63,266Highest	46,350Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA	41.6±1.3Highest 4% above MA
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Arlington 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%	17.3%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Arlington and Brookline 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%	76.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$142,101±$8kLowest 37% above MA	$150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA
	Arlington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA	$933,800±$23kLowest 66% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA	$2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$9,604Lowest 60% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8%	35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	61.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1945Highest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 7% below MA	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Arlington 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	#29 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookline	Arlington
High school in town	Brookline High	Arlington High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	13.6Highest
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.