Compare towns
Brookline vs Needham vs Boston
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).
Needham has the most homeowners (83.1%).
Boston has the most affordable homes ($732k 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Needham | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266 |
32,459Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest 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% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$731,700±$10kLowest 30% above MA |
| Brookline and Needham 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±$183 37% above MA |
$2,147±$25Lowest 22% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | — | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Brookline High | — | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 18.7Highest |
| 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.