Compare towns
Brookline vs Somers vs Suffield 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).
Somers has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Somers | Suffield | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 63,266 |
10,308Lowest |
15,702 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2Lowest 10% below U.S. |
43.1±2.6 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Somers 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% |
19.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Somers 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 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. |
$124,705±$15k 54% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9kHighest 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67k 275% above U.S. |
$395,800±$21kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% 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. |
$1,184±$346Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% 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% |
51.6%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somers and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 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 | #66 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Somers School District | Suffield School District | Newton |
| High school in town | Brookline High | Somers High School | Suffield High School | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
7.7Lowest |
10.9 |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.