What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

Newton has the most homeowners (70%).

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	Newton
People
Population	63,266Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA	42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Newton 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%	19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	81.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Newton 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±$8kLowest 37% above MA	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,246,800±$67kLowest 122% above MA	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA
	Newton and Brookline 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	$2,370±$81Lowest 35% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8%	43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Brookline and Newton 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%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1942Highest 22 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 7% below MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Newton 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	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookline	Newton
High school in town	Brookline High	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.