What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k median).

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

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	Washington	Brookline
People
Population	526Lowest	531Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S.	45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20%±6Highest 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+	35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±1.6Highest 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	$95,278±$12kHighest 18% above U.S.	$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average
	Washington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$370,700±$32kHighest 11% above U.S.	$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,732±$232 23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,381Lowest 40% above U.S.	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.8%±94.7Highest 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	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	12.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.2Highest 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.