Compare towns
Brookline vs Jefferson vs Andover
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 kids (20% under 18).
Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Jefferson | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,013Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Andover 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. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 14 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.