What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).

Brookline has the most kids (18.7% under 18).

Cambridge is a college town. 25.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	118,796Highest	63,266Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA	35.2±1.2Highest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	12.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	12.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	15.8%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	80.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	10.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,748±$4kLowest 26% above MA	$142,101±$8kHighest 37% above MA
	Brookline and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,092,100±$42kLowest 94% above MA	$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,787±$48Lowest 58% above MA	$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA
	Brookline and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,802Lowest 20% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45%±2.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brookline and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.8%Highest MA: 10%	8.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	46.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	27 minHighest 7% below MA
Work from home	30.8%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6%	30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Cambridge and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#122 of 282 in MA	#22 of 282 in MA
School district	Cambridge	—
High school in town	Cambridge Rindge and Latin	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.