7 Best Places to Live in Massachusetts
Open to exploring your options? Discover other great cities in Massachusetts with our detailed guide.
Adjacent to Boston, Brookline combines city accessibility with tree-lined residential streets. This 6.8-square-mile community features distinct neighborhoods, from the active streets of North Brookline to the established estates of South Brookline. The rental market reflects the area's desirability, with average rents ranging from $2,515 for studios to $5,882 for four-bedroom homes. Coolidge Corner and Washington Square serve as central commercial districts, where historic architecture houses independent shops and the landmark Coolidge Corner Theatre.
The town's green spaces include the Emerald Necklace park system, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and Larz Anderson Park, which spans 64 acres and houses the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. Commuters benefit from MBTA Green Line access via the C and D branches, providing direct routes to downtown Boston. Brookline's public schools consistently rank among Massachusetts' top districts. The area's notable landmarks include the John F. Kennedy National Historic Site, preserving the president's birthplace. Housing selections encompass high-rise apartments near Coolidge Corner and historic Victorian homes in Pill Hill, creating a varied residential landscape across the community.
As of January 2026, the average apartment rent in Brookline, MA is $2,631 for a studio, $2,836 for one bedroom, $3,527 for two bedrooms, and $4,802 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Brookline has decreased by -2.1% in the past year.
Open to exploring your options? Discover other great cities in Massachusetts with our detailed guide.
Walker's Paradise
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
Lace up your walking shoes because this area is considered a walker’s paradise.
Excellent Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
You’ll have excellent transit living in this area, with several nearby transit stops.
Very Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
This area is very bikeable. You’ll find a variety of bike paths and lanes.
Public
Grades K-8
705 Students
Public
Grades K-8
621 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
508 Students
Public
Grades K-8
485 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
851 Students
Public
Grades K-8
705 Students
Public
Grades K-8
621 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
508 Students
Public
Grades K-8
485 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
851 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,087 Students
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2025.