What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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

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	Cambridge	Brookline
People
Population	3,767Highest	531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	37.4±1.8Lowest 13% below VT	45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT
Kids under 18	23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9%	20%±6Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Cambridge and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%	19.6%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Brookline and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%	3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7%
	Brookline and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT	$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average
	Brookline and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT	$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT
	Cambridge and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,183±$66Lowest 4% below VT	$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,910Lowest about the VT average	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4%	47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Cambridge and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Highest VT: 10.1%	6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 38% above VT	28 minLowest 21% above VT
Work from home	9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#25 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Cambridge School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.