Moving to Brookline

The Complete Guide

Everything you need to know about relocating to one of Greater Boston's most desirable communities - from neighborhoods and schools to commute times and home prices.

Illustration of a family moving to Brookline, walking with boxes and a dog past a Green Line trolley and historic brick buildings in Coolidge Corner, with the Boston skyline in the distance.
Population

63,000

Median Home

$1.2M

Schools

Top Ranked in MA

Transportation

Green Line: B, C, D

Walk Score

80+

Why People Move to Brookline

Brookline isn't Boston, and that's the point. This independent town of 63,000 sits entirely surrounded by Boston, offering urban convenience with suburban governance—and some of the best public schools in Massachusetts.

The Schools

Brookline’s eight K-8 schools consistently rank among the state’s best. Every student attends Brookline High School, a nationally recognized public high school with resources that rival private institutions.

The Walkability

Unlike most suburbs, Brookline has genuine neighborhood centers. Coolidge Corner and Washington Square feel like small cities—restaurants, shops, and groceries all within walking distance.

Commute

Three Green Line branches (B, C, D) run through Brookline. Downtown Boston is 15-25 minutes by T. Cambridge and the Longwood Medical Area are even closer.

The Community

Brookline attracts academics, medical professionals, young families, and longtime residents who value walkability, diversity, and civic engagement. Town Meeting—a form of direct democracy—still governs here.

Brookline Neighborhoods

Brookline is small (6.8 square miles) but has distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character, price point, and vibe.

A vibrant, flat-style digital illustration of the historic S.S. Pierce Building in Coolidge Corner, Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features the building's iconic Tudor Revival architecture and clock tower at a street intersection, set against a deep blue twilight sky with glowing streetlights and clean, vector-like lines.
Coolidge Corner
Brookline's urban heart. Walkable, lively, full of restaurants and shops. Mostly condos and multi-families. Best for: young professionals, couples, urban-lifestyle seekers.
Here is the alt text for the Washington Square collage: Alt Text: "A stylized, hand-drawn collage of Washington Square in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features key local landmarks, including the Driscoll School or similar brick architecture, local storefronts with awnings, and a classic green MBTA trolley car passing through. The composition uses a scrapbook aesthetic with torn paper edges and soft, muted colors, labeled with 'Washington Square' and 'Brookline, MA'.
Washington Square
Quieter than Coolidge but equally walkable. Known for restaurants and boutiques. Good condo inventory. Best for: professionals who want calm with convenience.
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting landmarks of Brookline Village, Massachusetts. The drawing features the Brookline Public Library building, the Town Hall with its cupola, a green 'Brookline Village' street sign, and a street scene with brick storefronts, pedestrians with umbrellas, and a green MBTA trolley car. Text labels read 'BROOKLINE VILLAGE', 'TOWN HALL', and 'BROOKLINE, MA'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors.
Brookline Village
Historic town center with local shops and the D Line. Mix of condos, multi-families, and single-family homes. Best for: families, Longwood commuters, history lovers.
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the Longwood neighborhood in Brookline, MA. The artwork features large hospital buildings labeled 'LONGWOOD MEDICAL AREA', a 'LONGWOOD AVE' street sign, the Longwood Towers, and a Green Line trolley at a 'LONGWOOD STATION' T access point. Pedestrians, including people in medical scrubs, walk on the sidewalks. The overall style is nostalgic with muted colors.
Longwood
Adjacent to Boston's hospital district. Primarily condos. Walk-to-work convenience for medical professionals. Best for: healthcare workers, students, young professionals.
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the Cottage Farm neighborhood in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features large, ornate Victorian-style homes with turrets, a green sign reading 'COTTAGE FARM HISTORIC DISTRICT,' a street scene with stone walls and pedestrians, and a green MBTA trolley car at a stop labeled 'COMMONWEALTH AVE'. Text labels read 'COTTAGE FARM', 'BROOKLINE, MA', and 'HISTORIC DISTRICT'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors.
Cottage Farm
Historic district with grand Victorian mansions near BU. Prestigious, quiet, architecturally stunning. Best for: those seeking historic character and larger homes.
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the Fisher Hill neighborhood in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features large historic mansions, including a prominent stone house with a turret, a green sign reading 'FISHER HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT,' a winding tree-lined street with stone walls and a vintage car, and a distant view of the Boston skyline. Text labels read 'FISHER HILL', 'BROOKLINE, MA', and 'HISTORIC DISTRICT'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors.
Fisher Hill
Hilltop enclave designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Grand estates, curving streets, privacy. Best for: executives, families wanting space and prestige.
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the Pill Hill neighborhood in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features large Victorian-style mansions, including a prominent stone house with a turret, a large brick institutional building, a green sign reading 'PILL HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT,' and street scenes with stone walls, trees, and a vintage car. Text labels read 'PILL HILL', 'BROOKLINE, MA', and 'HISTORIC DISTRICT'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors.
Pill Hill
Victorian neighborhood with stately homes, close to Route 9. Named for its history as home to physicians. Best for: families wanting Victorian architecture and central location.
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the Chestnut Hill neighborhood in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features large historic mansions, a view of the Chestnut Hill Reservoir with a tower and gate, a green sign reading 'CHESTNUT HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT,' and street scenes with stone walls, trees, and a vintage car. Text labels read 'CHESTNUT HILL', 'BROOKLINE, MA', and 'HISTORIC DISTRICT'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors.
Chestnut Hill
Brookline's most suburban neighborhood. Large lots, upscale shopping, the Reservoir. Best for: families wanting space, yard, and top schools.
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the South Brookline neighborhood in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features suburban street scenes with modest single-family homes, a sign for 'PUTTERHAM MEADOWS GOLF COURSE' next to a view of a fairway, winding tree-lined roads with vintage cars, and a wooded area near a lake. Text labels read 'SOUTH BROOKLINE', 'BROOKLINE, MA', and 'PUTTERHAM AREA'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors.
South Brookline
Quiet, residential, more affordable. Larger lots, family-friendly streets, Larz Anderson Park. Best for: families prioritizing space over walkability.

Brookline Public Schools

Brookline's school system is the #1 reason families move here.
How it works: Brookline has 8 neighborhood K-8 schools. Your address determines your assigned school. All students then attend Brookline High School for grades 9-12.

A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the Florida Ruffin Ridley School in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features a large brick school building with a clock tower, a green sign reading 'FLORIDA RUFFIN RIDLEY SCHOOL, BROOKLINE, MA,' a yellow school bus with children, and suburban scenes with vintage cars, houses, trees, and a lake. Text labels read 'RIDLEY SCHOOL' and 'BROOKLINE, MA'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors.
Florida Ruffin Ridley
Grades: K-8
Niche Rank: A
Enrollment: 852
Student to Teacher: 12:1
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the Driscoll School in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features a large red brick school building with a prominent clock tower, a green sign reading 'DRISCOLL SCHOOL, BROOKLINE, MA,' a yellow school bus with children, and suburban street scenes with vintage cars, trees, and a lake. Text labels read 'DRISCOLL SCHOOL' and 'BROOKLINE, MA'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors.
Michael Driscoll
Grades: K-8
Niche Rank: A+
Enrollment: 567
Student to Teacher: 12:1
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the John Pierce School in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features the historic brick school building with its prominent tower, a green sign reading 'JOHN PIERCE SCHOOL, BROOKLINE, MA,' a yellow school bus with children, and suburban street scenes with vintage cars and trees. Text labels read 'PIERCE SCHOOL' and 'BROOKLINE, MA'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors.
John Pierce
Grades: K-8
Niche Rank: A+
Enrollment: 725
Student to Teacher: 12:1
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the Amos A. Lawrence School in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features a large brick school building, a green sign reading 'AMOS A. LAWRENCE SCHOOL, BROOKLINE, MA,' a yellow school bus with children, and suburban street scenes with vintage cars, houses, trees, and a lake. Text labels read 'AMOS A. LAWRENCE SCHOOL' and 'BROOKLINE, MA'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors
Amos A. Lawrence
Grades: K-8
Niche Rank: A+
Enrollment: 700
Student to Teacher: 12:1
A hand-drawn collage illustration with a torn-paper aesthetic, depicting the Roland Hayes School in Brookline, Massachusetts. The image features a drawing of the large, two-story brick school building, a green sign reading 'ROLAND HAYES SCHOOL, BROOKLINE, MA,' a yellow school bus with children, and suburban street scenes with houses, vintage cars, and a lake. Text labels read 'ROLAND HAYES SCHOOL' and 'BROOKLINE, MA'. The overall style is muted and nostalgic.
Roland Hayes
Grades: K-8
Niche Rank: A+
Enrollment: 518
Student to Teacher: 12:1
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the William H. Lincoln School in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features a large brick school building, a green sign reading 'WILLIAM H. LINCOLN SCHOOL, BROOKLINE, MA,' a yellow school bus with children, and suburban street scenes with vintage cars and trees. Text labels read 'LINCOLN SCHOOL' and 'BROOKLINE, MA'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors.
William H. Lincoln
Grades: K-8
Niche Rank: A+
Enrollment: 600
Student to Teacher: 12:1
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the John D. Runkle School in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features the large brick school building with a prominent columned entrance portico, a green sign reading 'JOHN D. RUNKLE SCHOOL, BROOKLINE, MA,' a yellow school bus with children, and suburban street scenes with vintage cars, trees, and a lake. Text labels read 'RUNKLE SCHOOL' and 'BROOKLINE, MA'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors.
John D. Runkle
Grades: K-8
Niche Rank: A+
Enrollment: 550
Student to Teacher: 12:1
A hand-drawn collage illustration with torn paper edges, depicting the Edith C. Baker School in Brookline, Massachusetts. The artwork features a large brick school building with a Gothic-style entrance tower, a green sign reading 'EDITH C. BAKER SCHOOL, BROOKLINE, MA,' a yellow school bus with children, and suburban scenes with vintage cars, houses, trees, and a lake. Text labels read 'BAKER SCHOOL' and 'BROOKLINE, MA'. The style is nostalgic with muted colors.
Edith C. Baker
Grades: K-8
Niche Rank: A+
Enrollment: 665
Student to Teacher: 12:1
A vibrant, stylized digital illustration of Brookline High School. Unlike the previous collage style, this image presents a cohesive, dynamic wide-angle view of the historic main brick building on Greenough Street. The scene is lively, featuring diverse students walking with backpacks near the entrance and Cypress Field in the foreground. The lighting is warm and golden, emphasizing the school's red brick facade and white trim, with a 'BROOKLINE HIGH SCHOOL' banner integrated naturally into the scene.
Brookline High School
Grades: 9-12
Niche Rank: A+
Enrollment: 2100
Student to Teacher: 11:1

Getting Around (and Out of) Brookline

Public Transit

Brookline has exceptional T access via three Green Line branches:

B Line (Boston College): Runs along Commonwealth Ave on the Boston/Brookline border

C Line (Cleveland Circle): Runs along Beacon Street through Coolidge Corner and Washington Square

D Line (Riverside): Runs through Brookline Village and Brookline Hills

Driving

Route 9 runs east-west through Brookline, connecting to downtown Boston and the western suburbs.

The Mass Pike (I-90) is accessible via Allston or Newton.

Beacon st and Comm Ave are the main “inner” street, and both lead right into the Back Bay.

Rush hour reality: Expect 25-40 minutes to downtown Boston by car during peak times. Many Brookline residents take the T or bike.

Biking

Brookline is increasingly bike-friendly, with dedicated lanes on several major roads.

The Emerald Necklace provides car-free paths to Boston. Many residents bike to Longwood Medical Area.

Parking

No Overnight Street Parking: Brookline has a strict no parking between 2am-6am throughout the toen.

Most single-family homes have driveways; many condos include one space as it used to be a building permit requirement (ended ~2023).

Coolidge Corner, Brookline Village and Washington Square have metered parking and town lots.

What Does It Cost to Live in Brookline?

Living in Brookline is expensive, with a competitive housing market that reflects its high desirability.
For potential buyers, one-bedroom condos typically range from $450,000 to $700,000, often found in areas like Coolidge Corner and Washington Square, while two-bedroom units—the most common purchase—usually sell between $600,000 and $1.1 million. larger three-bedroom condos are harder to find and command prices from $900,000 to $3 million.
The market for single-family homes is particularly limited and competitive, with prices ranging from $1.5 million to over $5 million, and multi-family properties generally trade between $1.5 million and $6 million depending on size.
On the rental side, tenants can expect to pay approximately $2,200 to $3,200 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, $2,800 to $4,500 for a two-bedroom, and $3,500 to $9,000 for a three-bedroom, while renting a single-family home often costs between $7,000 and $12,000 or more per month.
Regarding property taxes, the residential rate for FY2024 is approximately $9.87 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Should You Rent First?

Consider renting if:
- You're new to Boston and want to explore neighborhoods
- Your job situation may change in 1-2 years
- You're not sure which school zone matters to you
- You want to experience Brookline winters before committing

Consider buying if:
- You plan to stay 5+ years
- You have school-aged children (school zone matters)
- You're financially ready
- You've done your neighborhood research

The reality: Brookline's rental market is competitive, especially for July 1 (unlike the Boston lease cycle). Many families rent for one school year to confirm their preferred neighborhood, then buy.

Explore Brookline Rentals

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is Brookline safe?

    Safety is a personal feel, it's highly recommended to visit the Brookline Police website and research on your own.
    Brookline consistently ranks as one of the safest communities in Massachusetts. Violent crime is rare. Property crime exists but is below state and national averages.

  • Is Brookline part of Boston?

    No. Brookline is an independent town completely surrounded by
    Boston. It has its own government, schools, police, and services.
    This distinction matters—Brookline schools are separate from Boston Public Schools.

  • Can I get into any Brookline school I want?

    No. Your home address determines your assigned K-8 school. Some addresses fall in "buffer zones" where you can choose between two schools, but assignment isn't guaranteed. All students attend Brookline High School regardless of address.

  • Should I buy a condo or single-family home?

    Depends on your budget and priorities. Condos offer more affordable entry points and less maintenance. Single-family homes provide more space and no condo fees, but cost significantly more and require more upkeep.
    Many condos are as large as single family homes (3,000+ sqft) - some buyers prefer newer condo over an older single family house.

  • How competitive is the housing market?

    Very. Brookline consistently has low inventory and high demand, especially for single-family homes. Well-priced properties often sell within a week, sometimes with multiple offers.

  • What's the best neighborhood for families?

    All Brookline neighborhoods have access to excellent schools. Chestnut Hill and South Brookline offer more space and yards. Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village offer more walkability. Your lifestyle priorities determine the best fit.

  • How are the winters?

    Cold and snowy. Boston averages 50 inches of snow per year.
    Brookline handles snow removal well, but street parking is banned during snow emergencies.
    Having four true seasons is wonderful though, and sitting by the fire on a snowy day can be a lot of fun.

  • Is a car necessary?

    Depends on your neighborhood and lifestyle. In Coolidge Corner or Washington Square, many residents go car-free or car-light. In South Brookline or Chestnut Hill, a car is more practical.

  • Do you need to be rich to live in Brookline?

    You need a healthy budget, but there's a range. A young professional can rent a 1BR in Coolidge Corner. A family buying a single-family home needs significantly more resources. Condos and multi-families offer middle-ground options. When you walk through Brookline, you see the diversity and you know that everyone is welcomed here.

  • What's the community like?

    Engaged and educated. Brookline has a higher-than-average percentage of residents with graduate degrees. Town Meeting (direct democracy) attracts active participation. Expect involved parents, civic organizations, and community events.