Compare towns
Brookline vs Needham vs Needham
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 renters (53.1% 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 | Needham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266Highest |
32,459Lowest |
32,459Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,101±$8kLowest 37% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% 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±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | — | Needham |
| High school in town | Brookline High | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | 11.9 |
| 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.