Compare towns
Brookline vs Pelham 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%).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($448k 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 | Pelham | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266 |
1,335Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
45±8.4Highest 13% above MA |
42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
| Pelham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Newton 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% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham 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% |
64.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest 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±$8k 37% above MA |
$113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA |
$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67k 122% above MA |
$447,600±$33kLowest 20% 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 |
$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,472Lowest 25% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5 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% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1942 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 7% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Newton 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 | Pelham | Newton |
| High school in town | Brookline High | None in town | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.