Brookline is one of the best-graded places in America: an A, ranked 50th of 282 in Massachusetts. On CDC health estimates it is near the top nationally, its schools rank ahead of 93% of Massachusetts towns, and the median household earns $142K. The exception is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $1.1 million, 9.7 years of the Boston metro’s $116K median household income. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 99% of U.S. towns, with 95 places on the National Register. 85% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Brookline, against 47% in Massachusetts’ towns and 29% across U.S. towns. Brookline is among the most walkable places in the country. Its National Register listings include George R. Minot House and Brookline Reservoir of the Cochituate Aqueduct.

StrongestA⁺Walkability A⁺History A⁺HealthWeakestD⁻Cost of living

What makes Brookline stand out

Where Brookline beats most towns.

Frederick Law Olmsted House, National Historic Site

HistoryA⁺

Settled in 1638

A history going back 388 years.

WalkabilityA⁺

More walkable than 99% of U.S. towns

37% of workers walk, bike or ride transit

EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

32 measures vs. Massachusetts

24 better7 too close to call1 worse

Widest gap	Brookline	MA
Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth	5.3%	11.9%

HealthA⁺

Healthier than 99% of U.S. towns

Beats MA on 24 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on 1

Less healthyHealthier

CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.

Frederick Law Olmsted House, National Historic Site · National Register of Historic Places

Brookline’s story

388 years in pictures

Frederick Law Olmsted House, National Historic Site is one of 4 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its 95 National Register listings are more than in 97% of Massachusetts towns with a listing.

Census counts: 484 in 1790, 63,191 in 2020. The archive holds 35 old photos and papers going back to 1740 and 6 maps from 1893 on.

1638Brookline is settled

Explore the history →

How Brookline grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Massachusetts), ordered by how far Brookline is from typical.

How grading works

Its grades run from A+ for walkability (better than 99% of comparable towns) to D− for cost of living (better than 1%), so the A overall blends very different results.

WalkabilityEPA walkability 15.4 of 20; 26.9% of households have no carA⁺Open →HealthAmong the healthiest U.S. towns; Brigham and Women Faulkner Hospital 1.7 miles awayA⁺Open →Cost of livingD⁻Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 10% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →SchoolsAOpen →Jobs & income18,026 jobs based hereAOpen →SafetyB⁺Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors20% conserved landAOpen →History50 notable people born hereA⁺Open →Civic life8.7 library visits per resident; 4.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA⁻Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market20 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.2–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Fenway Park and 196 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Brookline. Close and well known come first.

All 259 attractions →

Big draw3 mi Stadium & arenaFenway Park

Big draw2 mi MuseumIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Big draw17 mi Stadium & arenaGillette Stadium

3 mi MuseumMuseum of Fine Arts Boston477K visitors a year

3 mi Stadium & arenaHarvard Stadium

5 mi AttractionFreedom Trail

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Fenway Park: Gatorfan252525, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Sean Dungan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gillette Stadium: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Museum of Fine Arts Boston: Martin~jawiki at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Harvard Stadium: Nick Allen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Freedom Trail: Ingfbruno, CC BY-SA 3.0

Getting set up

Moving to Brookline: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Brookline, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerEversource21.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterBrookline Water and Sewer DivisionNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site

SchoolsBrookline School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Massachusetts you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 10 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereBrookline Town ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023

ZIP codes02446, 02445, 0246702446 51% · 02445 35% · 02467 14%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Brookline.

Brookline has less tooth loss than most of Massachusetts and is safe by national standards but not by Massachusetts’s; it also has homes that cost more against local pay than most of Massachusetts.

HousingCost of living grade D⁻

Compared with most of Massachusetts and the rest of the country, the median rent in Brookline is higher

At 9.7 years of the Boston metro’s $116K median household income, the typical home (about $1.12M) costs more against local pay than in 90% of Massachusetts towns; that ratio is one input to its D− for cost of living. Values fell 5.1% in the past year while the Massachusetts typical home rose 2.3%.

Brookline’s median rent is $2,835 a month. Typical home values fell 5.1% in the year to September 2026.

$1.12MZillow home value

Typical home value

Brookline$1.12M

Massachusetts$655K

Market temperature

days on market

100.2%

sale-to-list price

−5.1%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageBrookline’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsDown 5.1% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 7.9 years of income Rents$2,835 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsBehind its 2 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

SchoolsA

For schools, Brookline earns an A

Its A for schools comes with a D− for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $1.12M.

Its public schools are run by the Brookline school district. Three of its 22 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

93%of MA districts it outscoresASchool Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Florida Ruffin Ridley SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8	Grades PK–8	857	A⁻
Brookline HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	2,181	A⁺
Roland HayesTop results in townGrades PK–8	Grades PK–8	418	A⁺

Full pageBrookline’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsBrookline Vs. the neighborsAhead of all 2 graded neighbors Every school22 schools · Florida Ruffin Ridley School Questions“Are Brookline’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within MA on state tests and graduation

HealthA⁺

Brookline stands out in Massachusetts and nationally: a smaller share of its adults have obesity

Its widest gap with Massachusetts is tooth loss: 5.3% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 11.9% statewide.

20% of Brookline adults have obesity. Among 279 Massachusetts towns, just 3 have a lower share of adults who have diabetes than Brookline. 24% of Brookline adults have high blood pressure.

99%healthier than U.S. townsA⁺Health Grade

	Brookline	Massachusetts towns	U.S. towns
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	20%	28%	35%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)	8.5%	12%	14%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	24%	32%	35%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	6.1%	11%	14%

32 measures vs. Massachusetts

24 better7 too close to call1 worse

What stands out	Brookline	MA
Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth	5.3%	11.9%
Fewer smokers	6.1%	11.3%
Fewer adults treating high blood pressure	72.3%	75.4%

VA Boston Healthcare System - Jamaica Plain

1.6 mi away · emergency room

None

primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

95th

percentile among MA towns

Full pageBrookline’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsFewer smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby1.6 miles to an ER · VA Boston Healthcare System - Jamaica Plain How adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than MA on 24 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

OutdoorsA

Brookline has set aside 19.8% of its land for conservation

16 miles of trail in 43 parks and preserves. The trail density in Brookline is 2.3 miles per square mile. The biggest park or preserve is Larz Anderson Park, at 60 acres.

#95for trails in MA

19.8%

conserved · 861 of 4,346 acres

16 mi

of trails · 2.3 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Brookline Reservoir Park	1.1 mi	32
2. Skyline Park	1 mi	27
3. Larz Anderson Park	0.9 mi	60

Full pageBrookline’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map16 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk1.1 miles of trail · Brookline Reservoir Park Conserved land19.8% conserved · 861 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Brookline?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A

Brookline faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 90% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 19 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Brookline.

10risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingEarthquakesHurricanes

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageBrookline’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery low risk Flood claimsSince 1978 Past disasters11 federal disasters · Paid out in Brookline Get ready2.9 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Work & commuteJobs & income grade A

About half of Brookline’s working residents commute to Boston

30.1% of workers work from home, against 18.6% across Massachusetts.

Most working residents leave Brookline for work: only 7% work in town. 30% of workers work from home in Brookline. The top destinations are Boston (49%), Cambridge (11%) and Newton (3%).

7%work in town

	Brookline	Massachusetts towns	U.S. towns
Work from home	30%	18%	11%
Median household income	$142,000	$120,000	$80,000
Average trip to work	27 minutes	30 minutes	25 minutes
Below the poverty line	8.7%	6%	9.6%

Where working residents work

In Brookline7%

Boston49%

Cambridge11%

Newton3%

Waltham2%

3 mi

median commute distance

18,026

jobs based in Brookline

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

A+

Walkability grade: among the most walkable U.S. towns

Full pageBrookline’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here18,026 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work7% work in Brookline Commute times27 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 3 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SafetyB⁺

Crime per resident in Brookline is lower than in 68% of U.S. towns

At 11.9 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 51% of Massachusetts’s graded towns.

68%of U.S. towns report more crimeB⁺Safety Grade

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Brookline1.2

Massachusetts3

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Brookline7.2

Massachusetts10.4

U.S.15.5

68th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

49th

percentile among MA towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

463

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageBrookline’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type1.2 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsUp since 2023 Vs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 2 graded neighbors Questions“Is Brookline, MA safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Climate

In Brookline, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers

Brookline has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 19° and about 70 inches of snow falls in a winter.

70″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter21–39°

Spring37–58°

Summer60–81°

Fall43–63°

Oct 23

typical first frost

Apr 19

typical last frost

+2.1°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageBrookline’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 84°, January lows 19°Rain & snow70″ of snow a winter · 49 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+2.1° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Brookline

20pages on Brookline

The big questions

SchoolsABeat 93% of MA districts · 22 schools SafetyB⁺1.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA⁺Better than MA on 24 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingD⁻$1.12M typical home · down 5.1% in a year Work & commuteA$142K median household income · 18,026 jobs here Natural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 10% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA16 mi of trails · 20% conserved land PlacesAttractions259 nearby · John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site under 1 mi LibraryA⁻8.7 library visits per resident CollegesHellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, in town

The story

HistoryA⁺Settled 1638 · 95 on the National Register Famous people50 born in Brookline Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 35 residents Climate84° summer highs · 70″ of snow

Day to day

News1 recent stories about Brookline WeatherHandbookZIP code 02445, 02446 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

50 within 15 miles of the center of Brookline

Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of TheologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · BrooklineIn town$22,490 tuition Roxbury Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Roxbury Crossing2.4 mi$6,024 in-state tuition Massachusetts College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Public · Boston2.4 mi$15,400 in-state tuition

About 11 of every 100 Brookline residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across Massachusetts.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

College town

11% of Brookline is in college

2 colleges in town.

Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Inc165 students on campus

Admission: Open
Net price: —
Graduate: —

Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology125 students on campus

Admission: 80%
Net price: $25,203
Graduate: 44%

College Scorecard · IPEDS

Landmarks

95 places in Brookline on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Frederick Law Olmsted House, National Historic SiteNational Historic Landmark

John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site (Additional Documentation)National Historic Landmark

George R. Minot HouseNational Historic Landmark

St. Mark's Methodist Church

Famous people from Brookline

50 notable people were born in Brookline.

See all 50 →

Robert F. KennedyAmerican politician and lawyer · 1925–1968

Amy Lawrence LowellUS writer · 1874–1925

Michael DukakisAmerican politician · born 1933

Mike WallaceAmerican journalist, game show host and actor · 1918–2012

William A. WellmanAmerican director, actor · 1896–1975

Eunice Kennedy ShriverAmerican philanthropist; founder of the Special Olympics; sister of John F. Kennedy · 1921–2009

About Brookline

Town in Massachusetts, United States

Official town website ↗

Brookline ( ) is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, and part of the Boston metropolitan area. An exclave of Norfolk County, Brookline borders six of the City of Boston's neighborhoods: Brighton, Allston, Fenway–Kenmore, Mission Hill, Jamaica Plain, and West Roxbury. The city of Newton borders Brookline to the west. It is known for being the birthplace of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Conan O'Brien. The land which comprises what is today Brookline was first settled in 1638 as a hamlet in Boston, known as Muddy River (as it was settled on the west side of the river of the same name). It was incorporated as a separate town with the name of Brookline in 1705. Several s…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1638
Area: 6.8 sq mi
Elevation: 49 ft
ZIP code: 02445, 02446
Area code: 617

Brookline’s neighbors

2 towns share a border with Brookline.

Explore the map →

BostonNewtonBrookline

Boston

E · 49% of Brookline workers commute here

Visit

Newton

W · 3% of Brookline workers commute here