Census-designated place · Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, census-designated place, in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Brookline had 63,266 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±43). GEOID 2509210.
Residents, 2020-2024
63,266
±43 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 63,191
Median household income
$142,101
±$8,266 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$1,246,800
±$66,806 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$2,835
±$82 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Brookline and what county is it in?
Brookline is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. It covers 6.8 square miles of land, 9,351 residents per square mile in 2020.
Brookline is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Brookline, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Brookline's population at 63,266 (±43). The 2020 Census counted 63,191 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Brookline is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Brookline | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 63,266 ±43 | 730,082 | +4,086 |
| Households | 27,587 ±731 | 283,368 | +3,151 |
| Average household size | 2.24 ±0.06 | 2.51 | −0.11 |
| Housing units | 28,873 ±753 | 295,227 | +2,910 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Brookline?
The median resident of Brookline is 35.2 years old; 18.7% are under 18 and 15.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 64.1%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 19.3%. 27.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Brookline | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 ±1.2 | 40.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.7% ±1.2 pts | 20.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.8% ±1.3 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Male | 45.3% ±1.2 pts | 48.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.2% ±0.8 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 64.1% ±2.0 pts | 68.7% | −3.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±0.8 pts | 7.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 19.3% ±1.8 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.8% ±0.9 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.4 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 27.8% ±2.0 pts | 19.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 31.2% ±2.5 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.0% ±0.6 pts | 3.8% | – |
| With a disability | 7.5% ±1.0 pts | 9.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.0% ±0.3 pts | 1.9% | −1.1 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.6% ±0.9 pts | 94.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 85.4% ±1.7 pts | 58.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 57.9% ±2.2 pts | 28.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 78.8% ±1.8 pts | 89.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 6.4% ±1.1 pts | 2.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Brookline earn?
Half of Brookline's 27,587 households earn less than $142,101 a year (±$8,266), against $130,739 in Norfolk County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $144,392 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Brookline | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $142,101 ±$8,266 | $130,739 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $219,714 ±$13,698 | $183,022 | – |
| Per capita income | $96,682 ±$5,338 | $71,758 | +$8,643 |
| People below the poverty line | 8.7% ±1.1 pts | 6.7% | −3.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 4.7% ±1.6 pts | 5.4% | −2.9 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.1% ±1.4 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.3% ±0.9 pts | 96.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.1% ±0.9 pts | 94.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Brookline?
Owners occupy 46.9% of Brookline's occupied homes and renters 53.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,246,800 by its owner (±$66,806). The median renter pays $2,835 a month including utilities, and 37.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Brookline | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $1,246,800 ±$66,806 | $683,900 | +$98,316 |
| Median gross rent | $2,835 ±$82 | $2,149 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 37.6% ±3.2 pts | 41.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $3,171 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 46.9% ±2.3 pts | 68.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 53.1% ±2.3 pts | 31.3% | – |
| Housing units | 28,873 ±753 | 295,227 | +2,910 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.5% ±1.1 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 18.3% ±1.4 pts | 56.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.7% ±0.7 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 51.7% ±2.4 pts | 26.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 26.9% ±2.2 pts | 9.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Brookline work and get to work?
28.4% of Brookline's workers drive alone and 30.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.6%.
| Measure | Brookline | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 73.2% ±1.8 pts | 69.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% ±0.9 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 28.4% ±1.8 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.2% ±0.8 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 18.1% ±1.7 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Walked | 14.9% ±1.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 30.1% ±2.3 pts | 22.8% | +22.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.1 min ±0.7 | 32.5 min | −2.7 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Brookline?
15 census tracts lie mostly in Brookline (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $82,109 (Tract 4009) to $250,000 or more (Tract 4012.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4008Norfolk County | 5,945 | $143,723 |
| Tract 4012.01Norfolk County | 5,645 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4005Norfolk County | 5,519 | $154,688 |
| Tract 4001Norfolk County | 5,412 | $111,392 |
| Tract 4006Norfolk County | 5,280 | $157,721 |
| Tract 4011Norfolk County | 4,639 | $202,169 |
| Tract 4003Norfolk County | 4,628 | $190,667 |
| Tract 4007Norfolk County | 4,121 | $175,000 |
| Tract 4009Norfolk County | 4,115 | $82,109 |
| Tract 4004.01Norfolk County | 3,939 | $84,928 |
| Tract 4010Norfolk County | 3,580 | $138,182 |
| Tract 4002.02Norfolk County | 3,458 | $95,592 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Brookline) · Census block assignment files
How does Brookline compare with other places in Massachusetts?
Brookline ranks 102nd of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 19th | 460 |
| Residents per square mile | 11th | 461 |
| Median household income | 102nd | 453 |
| Per capita income | 31st | 460 |
| Median home value | 15th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 7th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 106th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3rd | 459 |
| Median age | 443rd | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 438th | 460 |
| Work from home | 53rd | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 313th | 459 |
Brookline's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Brookline with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Brookline?
6 of the 57 figures for Brookline on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Brookline are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.