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Brookline, MA

Frequently asked questions

Brookline, MA

Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, and part of the Boston metropolitan area. An exclave of Norfolk County, Brookline borders six of Boston's neighborhoods: Brighton, Allston, Fenway–Kenmore, Mission Hill, Jamaica Plain, and West Roxbury. The city of Newton borders Brookline to the west.

The town of Brookline has a complex history. It was first settled in 1638 as a hamlet in Boston, known as the Muddy River (as it was settled on the west side of the river of the same name); it was incorporated as a separate town in 1705. In 1873, Brookline had a contentious referendum in which it voted to remain independent from Boston. The later annexations of Brighton and West Roxbury, both in 1874 and that of Hyde Park in 1912, eventually made Brookline into an exclave of Norfolk County. The town also has a history of racial discrimination in zoning as well as blocking housing construction. Today, it is overwhelmingly wealthy and has a very low proportion of black residents, at only 2.5%.

Several streets and railroads were laid out in the town in the 19th century. Today, these are Massachusetts Route 9 (locally "Boylston St", which cuts the town in two) and the various branches of the MBTA's Green Line. To the north of Route 9, the area is fairly urban; the southern part is much less so. At the time of the 2020 census, the population of the town was 63,191. It has been the most populous municipality in Massachusetts to have a town (rather than city) form of government since Framingham changed to a city in 2018, following a 2017 referendum.

Once part of Algonquian territory, Brookline was first settled by European colonists in the early 17th century. The area was an outlying part of the colonial settlement of Boston and was known as the hamlet of Muddy River. In 1705, it was incorporated as the independent town of Brookline. The northern and southern borders of the town were marked by two small rivers or brooks, which is the town's namesake. The northern border with Brighton (which was itself part of Cambridge until 1807) was Smelt Brook. (That name appears on maps starting at least as early as 1852, but sometime between 1888 and 1925 the brook was covered over.) The southern boundary, abutting Boston, was the Muddy River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Brookline has a total area of 6.8 sq mi (17.7 km2), all but 0.039 sq mi (0.1 km2) (0.44%) of which is land.

The northern part of Brookline, roughly north of the D-line tracks, is urban, highly walkable, and transit-rich. The population density of this northern part of town is nearly 20,000 inhabitants per square mile (8,000/km2), similar to the densest neighborhoods in nearby Cambridge, Somerville, and Chelsea, Massachusetts (the densest cities in New England), and slightly lower than that of central Boston's residential districts (Back Bay, South End, Fenway, etc.). The overall density of Brookline, which also includes suburban districts and grand estates south of the D-line, is still higher than that of many of the largest cities in the United States, especially in the South and West. Brookline borders Newton (part of Middlesex County) to the west and Boston (part of Suffolk County) in all other directions; it is therefore non-contiguous with any other part of Norfolk County. Brookline became an exclave of Norfolk County in 1873 when the neighboring town of West Roxbury was annexed by Boston (and left Norfolk County to join Suffolk County). Brookline refused to be annexed by Boston after the Boston–Brookline annexation debate of 1873.

Brookline separates the bulk of the city of Boston (except for a narrow neck or corridor near the Charles River) from its westernmost neighborhoods of Allston–Brighton, which had been the separate town of Brighton until annexed by Boston in 1873.

Brookline places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Boston Children’s Brookline provides care for our patients in a convenient setting less than a mile from the hospital’s Longwood campus. At Down Under School of Yoga, you can enjoy a range of yoga classes for all skill levels. Coolidge Yoga specializes in yoga and meditation classes to help you unwind. Brookline Tai Chi offers classes to improve balance, flexibility, and overall wellness. For a refreshing swim, head to the Evelyn Kirrane Aquatics Center (EKAC), which offers lap swimming and water aerobics. The Body Center provides Pilates classes for those looking to enhance core strength and flexibility. Cypress Street Playground is perfect for families, featuring playgrounds and open spaces for recreational activities.

Top Sites in Brookline, MA: Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Larz Anderson Auto Museum, Coolidge Corner Theatre, and John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site.
 

ZIP Codes: 02445–02447, 02467. Population: 62,698 (2022). Area code: 617/857. Elevation: 50 ft (15 m). Area: 6.8 square miles (17.7 km2).
 

FAQs

Is Brookline, MA a wealthy town?

As a consequence of restrictions on housing supply, Brookline is overwhelmingly wealthy. Only 2.5% of its population is black, which is the second-lowest share of black people in any community in the Boston area. Only 14% of Brookline teachers, 21% of Brookline police, and 22% of Brookline firefighters live in Brookline, as median salaries for these kinds of jobs make housing in Brookline largely unaffordable.

What is Brookline, MA famous for?

Brookline was the birthplace of President John F. Kennedy; the house in which he was born was designated a national historic site in 1969. The Frederick Law Olmsted House also was made a national historic site (1979). The town is the site of Pine Manor College (1911; in southern Chestnut Hill), Newbury College (1962), which mainly offers two-year degrees, Hebrew College (1921), and Hellenic College (1937), a Greek Orthodox institution. 

Is Brookline, MA a good place to live?

Brookline is a suburb of Boston with a population of 62,698. Brookline is in Norfolk County and is one of the best places to live in Massachusetts. Living in Brookline offers residents an urban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Brookline, there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. 

Sources

Wikipedia

Town of Brookline

Niche

Britannica

Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site

Larz Anderson Auto Museum

Coolidge Corner Theatre

John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site

Boston Children’s Brookline

Down Under School of Yoga

Coolidge Yoga

Brookline Tai Chi

Evelyn Kirrane Aquatics Center (EKAC)

The Body Center

Cypress Street Playground

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