What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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	Lee
People
Population	531Lowest	5,719Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S.	55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Lee 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%	33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lee 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	$83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Lee 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.	$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,375±$212Lowest about the U.S. average
	Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.	$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.	18 minLowest 31% below U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline and Lee 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	—	#209 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Lee
High school in town	—	Lee Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.