Compare towns
Brookline vs Lowell vs Watertown
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).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k median).
Watertown has the oldest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Lowell | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266 |
118,368Highest |
35,543Lowest |
| 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±0.8 11% below MA |
39.4±1.3Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.3%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Watertown 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% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$126,265±$6k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$784,600±$31k 40% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$2,502±$107 42% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,799 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±5.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
47.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Brookline and Watertown 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #171 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Lowell | Watertown |
| High school in town | Brookline High | Lowell High | Watertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
14.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.