What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	531Lowest	1,208Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S.	55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	13.8%±4.9Lowest 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%	29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Washington 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	$89,453±$12kHighest 11% 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.	$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S.
	Washington and Brookline 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.	$1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.	$4,321Lowest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±88.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest 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.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.	36 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Washington 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.