What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k median).

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	Lowell
People
Population	63,266Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA	35.6±0.8Highest 11% below MA
	Lowell and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.8%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Brookline and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$142,101±$8kHighest 37% above MA	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA	$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell and Brookline 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%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 7% below MA	28 minHighest 4% below MA
Work from home	30.1%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 282 in MA	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookline	Lowell
High school in town	Brookline High	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.