Compare towns
Brookline vs Pelham vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most renters (53.1% rent).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k 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 |
14,449Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Newton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newton and Pelham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 76% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9kHighest 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67k 275% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
| 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 101% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Pelham School District | Newton |
| High school in town | Brookline High | Pelham High School | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.