Compare towns
Brookline vs Northampton vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Newton has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Northampton | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266 |
30,962Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA |
| Newton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest 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% |
20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Northampton and Newton 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% |
62.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67k 122% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below 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 |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton 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% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
70%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1955Highest 9 yrs older than MA |
1942 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 7% below MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Lowest 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Newton |
| High school in town | Brookline High | Northampton High | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
14.7Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.