What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).

Madison has the most expensive homes ($389k 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	Madison
People
Population	531Lowest	2,680Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S.	50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S.
	Madison and Brookline 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%	23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Madison and Brookline 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%	23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Madison 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Madison 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	$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.
	Madison 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.	$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,556±$256Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Brookline and Madison 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.	$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Madison 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%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	—	Madison School District
High school in town	—	None in town
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.