The Town FilesBrookline, Massachusetts
Community in Norfolk County · population 63,191 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,246,800
- Household income
- $142,101
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 35.2
Brookline is a community of 63,191 people in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $1,246,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better transit than 100% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 99% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 99% of Massachusetts towns.
How Brookline ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Brookline is worth $1,246,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 8.8 times the median household income of $142,101, which is more affordable than 3% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,835 a month. 46.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brookline | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,246,800 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,835 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $142,101 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 46.9% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Brookline
| People | Brookline | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 85.4% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 2.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 27.8% | — |
| Work from home | 30.1% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 93.9% |
Weather in Brookline
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.2 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brookline since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 28, 2014 about 8.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 4, 2015.
Severe weather in Norfolk County since 1996
Norfolk County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Norfolk County
Norfolk County had 346,327 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $84,497 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Brookline itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Brookline
53 public schools with 26,361 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooke Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 2,208 | 12.2 |
| Brookline High | 9-12 | 2,173 | 11.6 |
| Boston Latin Academy | 7-12 | 1,693 | 17.3 |
| O'Bryant School of Math & Science | 7-12 | 1,538 | 16.0 |
| Roxbury Preparatory Charter School (charter) | 5-12 | 1,138 | 23.7 |
| Madison Park Technical Vocational High School | 9-12 | 1,058 | 8.9 |
| Curley K-8 School | PK-8 | 912 | 8.9 |
| Florida Ruffin Ridley School | PK-8 | 852 | 12.9 |
| Pierce | K-8 | 668 | 13.4 |
| Edith C Baker | K-8 | 654 | 12.3 |
| Lawrence | K-8 | 615 | 13.1 |
| Edison K-8 School | PK-8 | 584 | 8.7 |
Towns near Brookline
- Newton, MA3.4 mi · 88,923 people · home $1,264,900
- Cambridge, MA3.8 mi · 118,403 people · home $1,092,100
- Somerville, MA5.1 mi · 81,045 people · home $911,300
- Belmont, MA5.3 mi · 27,295 people · home $1,159,000
- Dedham, MA5.7 mi · 25,364 people · home $661,800
- Needham, MA5.9 mi · 32,091 people · home $1,188,500
- Boston, MA6.4 mi · 675,647 people · home $731,700
- Milton, MA6.4 mi · 28,630 people · home $933,200
Brookline questions
Is Brookline, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brookline scores better for retirees than 49% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 2%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.2).
How much does a house cost in Brookline?
The median owner-occupied home in Brookline is valued at $1,246,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $142,101, so homes cost about 8.8 times income. Median rent is $2,835 a month.
What is the weather like in Brookline?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 49.2 inches of snow.
Does Brookline get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brookline since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 28, 2014. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)