Compare towns
Brookline vs Hadley vs Arlington
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 most expensive homes ($1247k median).
Hadley has the most affordable homes ($511k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (34.5%).
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 | Hadley | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266Highest |
5,306Lowest |
46,350 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Hadley and Arlington 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% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest 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% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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 |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% 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 |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$933,800±$23k 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,082±$76 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$9,604 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brookline and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Hadley | Arlington |
| High school in town | Brookline High | Hopkins Academy | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
7.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.