Compare towns
Brookline vs Needham vs Needham
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 affordable homes ($544k 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 | Needham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kLowest 112% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Lowest 70% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #23 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | — | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.