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School district comparison · MCAS 2026 · other data 2024-25

Brookline vs Milton Schools

How the two districts, about 6 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Brookline ranks higher, #19 to Milton's #36 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Brookline students score higher: ELA 69% vs 63%, Math 74% vs 63% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Brookline averages 130 points higher (1301 vs 1171).
  • Spending: Brookline spends $6,887 more per student ($27,765 vs $20,878).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Brookline: single-family homes average $2.56M vs $1.08M. The average tax bill is $26,237 in Brookline and $12,769 in Milton.
  • Class size: Smaller in Brookline: 16.7 students on average vs 20.

MCAS results, 2026

Share of students meeting or exceeding expectations, all tested grades combined. Both districts test grades 3–10; "State" is the statewide figure for the same grades.

English Language ArtsBrookline ahead
Brookline
69%
Milton
63%
State
41%
MathBrookline ahead
Brookline
74%
Milton
63%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearBrooklineMiltonState
202669%63%41%
202572%65%43%
202469%64%42%
202372%65%45%
202272%59%44%
202173%66%49%
Math by year
YearBrooklineMiltonState
202674%63%41%
202573%62%42%
202472%62%42%
202372%62%42%
202271%60%41%
202166%53%36%

No test in 2020. Statewide 10th-grade results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement.

High school results

Average SATBrookline ahead
Brookline
1301
Milton
1171
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Brookline ahead
Brookline
94.1%
Milton
90.5%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateAbout the same
Brookline
96.5%
Milton
96.4%
MA avg
92.4%

Averages of each district's ranked high schools. "MA avg" is the average of all districts with high school data.

Classrooms, teachers & spending

Average class sizeHigher in Milton
Brookline
16.7
Milton
20
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateMilton ahead
Brookline
95%
Milton
96.9%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Milton
Brookline
10.8%
Milton
4.9%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearMilton ahead
Brookline
87.4%
Milton
91.5%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Brookline
Brookline
$27,765
Milton
$20,878
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Brookline
Brookline
$122,329
Milton
$100,399
MA median
$91,393

Spending is total per-pupil expenditure from all sources in FY2024. Class size is the average across all classes in the district.

Students

BrooklineMilton
Students in classes7,0824,381
English learners12.7%3.1%
Students with disabilities18.3%16.4%
White47.4%65%
Asian22.5%9.4%
Hispanic/Latino12.5%6.9%
Black/African American6.1%11.7%
Multi-race11.3%6.9%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Brookline
Brookline
$2.56M
Milton
$1.08M
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Brookline
Brookline
$26,237
Milton
$12,769
MA median
$6,814
Brookline
Norfolk County · Greater Boston — Inside I-95
Avg single-family home value$2.56MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$26,237MA median $6,814
Tax rate$10.20 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$104,506MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school80.9%
Town bond ratingAAA
Milton
Norfolk County · Greater Boston — Inside I-95
Avg single-family home value$1.08MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$12,769MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.80 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$95,943MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school81.7%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves3.4% of budget

What could you afford in either town?

FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue; for a district with several towns, the comparison uses the average of its towns. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices.

The schools