What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).

Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Harvard
People
Population	531Lowest	6,927Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S.	44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Brookline and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Harvard and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brookline and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Harvard and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average	$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S.	$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S.
	Brookline and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Harvard and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975 5 yrs older than U.S.	1975 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Harvard
High school in town	—	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.