Compare towns
Brookline vs Northampton vs Somerville
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).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Somerville has the most renters (65.8% 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 | Northampton | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266 |
30,962Lowest |
81,036Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
41.3±2.2Highest 3% above MA |
31.9±0.6Lowest 20% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Brookline and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
12.8%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Northampton and Somerville 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 |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$132,572±$6k 28% above MA |
| Brookline and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$911,300±$26k 62% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
$2,517±$64 43% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
$6,186 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±2.9Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
9.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1955Highest 9 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.3%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Somerville 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 | #225 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Somerville |
| High school in town | Brookline High | Northampton High | Somerville High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
14.7Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.