Compare towns
Brookline vs Dover vs Needham 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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Dover | Needham | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 63,266 |
2,308Lowest |
32,459 |
81,036Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
31.9±0.6Lowest 20% below MA |
| Dover and Needham 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% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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% |
83.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
69.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.8%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Somerville 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$132,572±$6kLowest 28% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67k 122% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$911,300±$26kLowest 62% above MA |
| Dover 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 |
— | $2,409±$183Lowest 37% above 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,186Lowest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
9.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
31.3%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Needham 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #225 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | — | — | Somerville |
| High school in town | Brookline High | — | — | Somerville High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.