Population 52,303 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Brookline
Household size in Brookline
| Period | Brookline | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.23 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.20 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Brookline are small: just 2.20 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.28, as it has nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Brookline
| Period | Brookline | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.6 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.4 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.0 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.1 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Brookline is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.1, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 34.6, as it has nationally. Only ten of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Brookline
| Period | Brookline | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Brookline: 4.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only 22 of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Brookline
Renters in Brookline
| Period | Brookline | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.1% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 53.5% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 54.2% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 56.8% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Brookline: 56.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. More than four in ten owners (44.2%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.8 points, in line with the national trend. Only 15 of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Brookline
| Period | Brookline | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.7% of homes in Brookline are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 3.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Brookline
| Period | Brookline | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1945 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1945 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1948 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1946 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Brookline is a place of older homes: half were built before 1946, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the west has the oldest housing. Only eight of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Brookline
| Period | Brookline | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,710 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,785 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,316 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,825 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,115 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in Brookline pays $2,825 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,115 a month since 2006–10, up 65%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 29.9% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Brookline
Bachelor's degrees in Brookline
| Period | Brookline | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.5% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 81.2% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 82.7% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 85.1% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Brookline is highly educated: nearly nine in ten adults 25 and older (85.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only seven of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Brookline
| Period | Brookline | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.8% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.8% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.8% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.7% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Brookline: 97.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 0.9 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Brookline has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Massachusetts cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Brookline
| Period | Brookline | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.3% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Brookline runs below the national rate: 4.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Brookline compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookline | 2.20 | 36.1 | 4.6% | 56.8% | 4.7% | 1946 | $2,825 | 85.1% | 97.7% | 4.0% |
| Allston | 2.21 | 28.4 | 6.2% | 87.6% | 10.5% | 1955 | $2,483 | 73.5% | 95.3% | 5.9% |
| Brighton | 2.00 | 31.4 | 6.1% | 76.3% | 6.9% | 1956 | $2,204 | 72.1% | 88.7% | 3.6% |
| Jamaica Plain | 2.30 | 34.2 | 8.0% | 61.4% | 5.6% | 1955 | $2,359 | 68.4% | 90.6% | 4.4% |
| Chestnut Hill | 2.70 | 38.4 | 6.6% | 26.6% | 7.5% | 1951 | $2,737 | 85.4% | 96.4% | 3.0% |
| Cambridge | 2.07 | 32.1 | 6.3% | 66.6% | 11.0% | 1959 | $2,761 | 81.4% | 96.4% | 3.3% |
| Boston area | 2.55 | 40.8 | 9.7% | 38.4% | 6.7% | 1964 | $2,051 | 51.9% | 91.8% | 4.9% |
| Watertown | 2.47 | 43.4 | 12.3% | 49.8% | 3.6% | 1938 | $3,082 | 80.7% | 99.7% | 3.2% |
| Newton Center | 2.70 | 46.1 | 3.1% | 16.0% | 5.1% | 1949 | $2,781 | 86.1% | 98.8% | 3.8% |
| Watertown Town | 2.17 | 40.8 | 5.7% | 52.3% | 5.9% | 1952 | $2,543 | 66.5% | 94.5% | 4.8% |
| Somerville | 2.27 | 32.9 | 3.9% | 65.7% | 6.6% | 1945 | $2,529 | 70.5% | 93.3% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Asheboro, NC · Morgan Hill, CA · Blacksburg, VA · Canovanas, PR · Collierville, TN · West Chester, OH · Methuen Town, MA · Delaware, OH · Downers Grove, IL · Hoffman Estates, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Brookline. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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