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Brookline, MA

A town of about 63,266 people in Norfolk County, part of the Boston area. Resident comments and photos are about Brookline; job numbers cover the wider area.

The Boston area:College town · College teaching jobs 2.0x the U.S. shareHealthcare and research hub · Healthcare and science jobs 1.6x the U.S. share
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

Around Brookline

Brookline MA Roughwood Pine Manor College
Brookline MA Roughwood Pine Manor College · Photo: User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
Brookline High School, March
Brookline High School, March · Photo: Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
Brookline Village, Brookline, MA D Train stop
Brookline Village, Brookline, MA D Train stop · Photo: Ddogas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Coolidge Corner South Side, Brookline, MA, panoramio
Coolidge Corner South Side, Brookline, MA, panoramio · Photo: Pesotsky, CC BY 3.0
Overlooking Leverett Pond in Olmsted Park from the Brookline, MA side
Overlooking Leverett Pond in Olmsted Park from the Brookline, MA side · Photo: Ddogas, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Where it is
Brookline
Brookline in Massachusetts
Massachusetts in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Brookline's center.

104
grocery stores
200+
restaurants
200+
coffee shops
200+
parks
200+
playgrounds
184
libraries
13
movie theaters
70
live theaters
54
museums
200+
bookstores
3
comic shops
112
gyms
168
bars
63
pharmacies
27
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What rent costs

Of about 14,453 rented homes in Brookline, 23% rent for under $2,000 a month and 58% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 11%
$1,000 to $1,499: 4%
$1,500 to $1,999: 8%
$2,000 to $2,499: 14%
$2,500 to $2,999: 21%
$3,000 or more: 42%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Brookline rents for $2,500 to $2,999 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $5,000 to $5,998 before you get the keys.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Public schools

Brookline MA Roughwood Pine Manor College
Brookline MA Roughwood Pine Manor College · Photo: User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0

35 public school districts in this county, with about 98,575 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Brookline · Brookline
7,116 students · 11.7 students per teacher · 13 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Quincy · Quincy
9,802 students · 13.5 students per teacher · 19 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Weymouth · Weymouth
5,676 students · 12.5 students per teacher · 11 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Needham · Needham
5,594 students · 12.8 students per teacher · 8 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Braintree · Braintree
5,380 students · 13.2 students per teacher · 10 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$733,574
What a typical home sells for across the Boston area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Average commute
31 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $1,483 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in MA. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Median household income
$126,497
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
1.09% of home value a year
About $1,090 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 9%
MA's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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