What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Newbury
People
Population	531Lowest	2,027Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S.	53.3±3.6Highest 37% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Newbury 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%	23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newbury 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%	53%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newbury 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	$116,477±$18kHighest 44% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S.	$463,400±$36kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232 23% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S.	$5,695Highest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50%±24.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newbury 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.1%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.