Compare towns
Brookline vs Windsor Locks 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor Locks | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266 |
12,579Lowest |
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. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Newton and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Newton and Brookline 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newton and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%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%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$190,304±$9kHighest 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67k 275% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below 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. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Windsor Locks School District | Newton |
| High school in town | Brookline High | Windsor Locks High School | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
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.