Compare towns
Brookline vs Harvard vs Westminster
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 ($291k median).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Harvard | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
6,927Highest |
497Lowest |
| 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±4.7 13% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% 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%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Brookline 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% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest 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. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% 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 | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Westminster 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 | — | #12 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT |
| 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 → | 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.