Compare towns
Brookline vs Somerville vs Watertown
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).
Somerville has the most renters (65.8% rent).
Watertown has the most affordable homes ($785k median).
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 | Somerville | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266 |
81,036Highest |
35,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
31.9±0.6Lowest 20% below MA |
39.4±1.3Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.3%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.3%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Watertown and Brookline 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% |
69.4% MA: 47.3% |
66.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
12.8%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Somerville 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±$8kHighest 37% above MA |
$132,572±$6k 28% above MA |
$126,265±$6kLowest 21% 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 |
$911,300±$26k 62% above MA |
$784,600±$31kLowest 40% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$2,517±$64 43% above MA |
$2,502±$107Lowest 42% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,186Lowest 3% above MA |
$6,799 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Brookline and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% MA: 10% |
9.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9% MA: 62.5% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
47.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1947Highest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
31.3%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±2.8Lowest 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 | #225 of 282 in MA | #171 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Somerville | Watertown |
| High school in town | Brookline High | Somerville High | Watertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.