What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most kids (18.7% under 18).

Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).

Cambridge is a college town. 25.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Cambridge
People
Population	63,266Lowest	118,796Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.2Highest 12% below MA	30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4%	12.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.8%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	12.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	80.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$142,101±$8kHighest 37% above MA	$130,748±$4kLowest 26% above MA
	Brookline and Cambridge 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	$1,092,100±$42kLowest 94% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA	$2,787±$48Lowest 58% above MA
	Brookline and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,802Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8%	45%±2.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Brookline and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest MA: 10%	12.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 7% below MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.8%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Cambridge 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	#122 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookline	Cambridge
High school in town	Brookline High	Cambridge Rindge and Latin
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	9.3Lowest
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.