7 Best Places to Live in Massachusetts
Open to exploring your options? Discover other great cities in Massachusetts with our detailed guide.
Median Age
36 Years
Largest Age Group
25-34 Years
Approximately 18% of Residents
Under 20
23%
Over 65
16%
Brookline
Brookline, MA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$2,888
Population
59,815
Renter Mix
54% Rent
A luxurious suburban retreat away from the Boston gridlock
Colonial Luxury
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Boston
•
Suburb
•
Metro Accessible
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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. 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.
Explore the City
Frederick Law Olmstead National Historic Site is located in South Brookline.
Coolidge family building can be found on Harvard and Beacon st in Coolidge Corner.
A local skates the ledges of the Cassidy mini skate park in Brookline.
Beginners and experts can enjoy the Jack Kirrane Ice Rink in South Brookline.
Enjoy a run at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir in Cleveland Circle.
Hit the links with a couple friends at Robert T Lynch Golf Course in South Brookline.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$129,036
Average: $158,796
Education
37,151
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
33,567
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Brookline has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
54%
Non-Renters
46%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
59%
Other Education
41%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Brookline, MA is $2,661 for a studio, $2,874 for one bedroom, $3,669 for two bedrooms, and $5,108 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Brookline has decreased by -0.7% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,874/month
663 Sq Ft
House
$5,269/month
1,200 Sq Ft
Condo
$4,044/month
2,666 Sq Ft
Townhome
$4,701/month
2,469 Sq Ft
Learn More About Brookline
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Brookline, MA is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
70
/ 100
Some Public Transit
Transit
50
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
70
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
70
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-8
624 Students
Public
Grades K-8
587 Students
Public
Grades K-8
554 Students
Public
Grades K-8
463 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
872 Students
Public
Grades K-8
624 Students
Public
Grades K-8
587 Students
Public
Grades K-8
554 Students
Public
Grades K-8
463 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
872 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,147 Students
School data provided by
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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
- Chestnut Hill Reservation
- Hammond Pond Reservation
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
- Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
Commuter Rail
Military Bases
Airports
- General Edward Lawrence Logan International
Top Apartments in Brookline
Houses for Rent in Brookline
Property Management Companies in Brookline, MA
The Hamilton Company
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22
Communities
-
3,252
Units
-
12
Cities
6 Communities in Brookline
Chestnut Hill Realty
-
15
Communities
-
5,347
Units
-
9
Cities
6 Communities in Brookline
Greystar
-
3,494
Communities
-
960,829
Units
-
891
Cities
1 Community in Brookline
Willow Bridge
-
719
Communities
-
198,456
Units
-
342
Cities
1 Community in Brookline
Cushman & Wakefield
-
459
Communities
-
109,207
Units
-
228
Cities
1 Community in Brookline
AvalonBay
-
208
Communities
-
74,042
Units
-
142
Cities
1 Community in Brookline
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Methodology
† 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 February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.