What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k 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	Washington
People
Population	531Highest	526Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S.	56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	13.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Washington 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%	35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Washington 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	$95,278±$12kHighest 18% above U.S.
	Washington 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.	$370,700±$32kHighest 11% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232 23% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.	$4,381Lowest 40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brookline and Washington 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%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline and Washington 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	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.