Greater Boston · Town guide
Living in Brookline, MA.
A town that borders Boston on three sides, with Green Line access, village centers like Coolidge Corner, and some of the highest prices in the state.
Brookline at a glance
- Median single-family
- $2,525,000
- ▼ 9.8% vs. last year
- Median condo
- $1,037,500
- ▲ 3.8% vs. last year
- Days on market
- 55
- single-family, year to date
- Sale vs. original list
- 97.2%
- single-family, year to date
- Residential tax rate
- $10.24
- per $1,000, FY2026
- Population
- 63,925
- 2024 Census estimate, +1.2% since 2020
- To Boston
- 4 mi
- straight line to City Hall
- MBTA rail & ferry
- Light rail
Brookline market · August 2026 year to date
The numbers, before the opinions.
| Measure | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $2,525,000 | $1,037,500 |
| Change vs. last year | ▼ 9.8% | ▲ 3.8% |
| Sales closed | 79 | 290 |
| Median days on market | 55 | 48 |
| Sale price vs. original list | 97.2% | 98.3% |
| For sale at month end | 44 | 100 |
| Months of supply | 4.5 | 2.9 |
Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Brookline Local Market Update (PDF, opens in a new tab) (MLS PIN data). Year-to-date figures except homes for sale and months of supply, which are for the latest month. A town median is a starting point; the right price is street by street.
Side by side · August 2026 year to date
How does Brookline compare with nearby towns?
| Town | Median single-family | Median condo | Days on market | Tax rate (FY2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookline | $2,525,000 ▼ 9.8% | $1,037,500 | 55 | $10.24 |
| Cambridge | $2,460,000 ▲ 1.2% | $975,000 | 35 | $6.67 |
| Boston | $877,500 ▼ 3.6% | $785,000 | 43 | $12.40 |
| Somerville | $1,375,000 ▼ 10.7% | $865,000 | 47 | $10.98 |
| Chelsea | $703,500 ▲ 11.5% | $472,500 | 29 | $11.48 |
| Medford | $900,000 ▼ 2.7% | $691,750 | 31 | $8.63 |
Year-to-date medians from each town's MAR Local Market Update; tax rates per $1,000 from the Mass. Division of Local Services. Nearby = closest town centers among the towns I cover.
Town guide
What it's like to live in Brookline.
What is it like to live in Brookline?
Brookline is technically a town, but much of it feels like the city: walkable village centers, Green Line service, and apartment and condo buildings along Beacon Street. South of Route 9, it turns into large single-family neighborhoods.
Its single-family median is among the highest of any town I cover.
What are Brookline's neighborhoods like?
A quick orientation, not a ranking:
| Area | What it's like | Worth a look if you want |
|---|---|---|
| Coolidge Corner | Busy village center on the Green Line | Walkability and transit |
| Brookline Village | Shops and restaurants near the D branch | A village feel near Longwood |
| Washington Square | Neighborhood center on Beacon Street | A quieter commercial center |
| Chestnut Hill & south of Route 9 | Large single-family homes and estates | Space and the top of the market |
What does housing look like in Brookline?
North Brookline is mostly condos and apartments in classic brick buildings. South Brookline and Chestnut Hill are dominated by large single-family homes.
How is the commute from Brookline to Boston?
Brookline is served by the Green Line's C and D branches, with the B branch running along its northern edge. Driving into Boston is short but traffic-dependent.
Where do people spend time in Brookline?
- Coolidge Corner and its independent cinema
- Larz Anderson Park
- The Emerald Necklace along Brookline's border
What should buyers and sellers know about Brookline?
- Overnight on-street parking is restricted town-wide; check how the property handles parking.
- Condos in older brick buildings need careful review of association finances.
- Single-family inventory is very limited.
For public school information, see the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's school and district profiles (Public Schools of Brookline).
Questions people actually ask.
Is Brookline part of Boston?
No. Brookline is a separate town, though it borders Boston on three sides and shares the Green Line.
Can you park overnight on the street in Brookline?
Overnight on-street parking is generally restricted. Check the town's rules and the property's parking.
MBTA stations in Brookline
- Light rail: 17 stations (Green Line C, Green Line D)
Monthly cost calculator
What would a Brookline home cost per month?
Pre-filled with Brookline's median single-family price and its FY2026 tax rate. Change anything. This is an estimate for planning, not a loan quote.
How I help in Brookline
Three ways to start.
Buy in Brookline
What homes here actually sell for, what they cost to own, and an offer strategy you can defend.
Buying with XavierSell in Brookline
A price grounded in Brookline sales, a plan for what to fix, and a clear read on every offer.
Get a home valuationInvest in Brookline
Two- and three-families run as numbers: rents, expenses, financing, and condition.
Multifamily & investingQuick answers about Brookline.
What is the median home price in Brookline, MA?
The median single-family sale price in Brookline was $2,525,000 for August 2026 year to date, compared with $2,800,000 for the same period a year earlier. The median condo sold for $1,037,500. Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MLS PIN data).
How fast are homes selling in Brookline?
Single-family homes that sold in Brookline during August 2026 year to date spent a median of about 55 days on market and sold for 97.2% of their original list price on average, according to MAR.
What is the property tax rate in Brookline, MA?
Brookline's FY2026 residential property tax rate is $10.24 per $1,000 of assessed value (Massachusetts Division of Local Services). On a home assessed at the median single-family sale price, that's roughly $25,860 a year; your actual bill depends on the assessed value.
Is there public transit from Brookline to Boston?
Yes. MBTA service in Brookline: light rail: 17 stations (Green Line C, Green Line D). Check the MBTA's current schedules for times.
MLS listings
Brookline homes for sale right now.
Active and coming-soon listings in Brookline, through my Ruuster home search. Save a search to hear about new ones as they come on.
Search provided by Ruuster via HomeBase. Open the full Brookline search in a new tab (opens in a new tab). Listing information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Buying or selling here?
Interested in Brookline?
Tell me what you're weighing: a street, a price range, a timeline. I'll send the recent sales that matter and what I'd watch for in Brookline specifically.
More Greater Boston towns
- Boston
- Cambridge
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- Medford
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- Melrose
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- Stoneham
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Sources: market figures, Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Local Market Update (data: MLS PIN; © ShowingTime Plus); tax rate, Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Municipal Databank, Tax Rates by Class; population, U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates for cities and towns; stations, MBTA (V3 API); distance, OpenStreetMap Nominatim (town center); miles are straight-line to Boston City Hall. Numbers retrieved 2026-09-25.