Boston Home

So, You Want to Live in Brookline?

It’s city living without the city headaches: Boston’s cousin to the west offers good eats, stellar schools, and lots of space to spread out (if you have the budget, that is).

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A large, elegant house with beige exterior walls and green-framed windows is set behind a rectangular swimming pool. The pool is surrounded by a stone patio with four large planters filled with colorful flowers. On the right side, tall leafy trees provide shade, while the left side features a low stone wall and lush greenery. The sky is clear and blue, enhancing the bright and inviting atmosphere.

Photo by Matt Surette of Surette Media Group. Listing agent: The Sarkis Team.

1. Pick Your Price Point

Brookline’s median home price has increased more than 13 percent from last year, and competition hasn’t cooled: Properties still move in roughly 20 days and typically receive more than one offer. Expect to see grand single-family homes on private, tree-lined lots listing for upward of $8 million, while budget-minded buyers can explore condo options under $1 million.

A green and white streetcar labeled "GOVT CENTER" travels on tracks along a city street. Overhead wires power the streetcar. A woman with a blue backpack stands on the sidewalk near a traffic light pole, looking at her phone. To the right, a dark green SUV waits at the intersection. In the background, a large building with a clock tower and Tudor-style architecture is visible, with people walking nearby. The sun is low, shining through the traffic light, casting long shadows.

Photo by Craig F. Walker / The Boston Globe

2. Plot Your Commute

As Boston’s western neighbor, access to and from the city is easy—Brookline was the No. 3 Top Place to Live in 2025 for a reason. Multiple Green Line stops are based in Brookline, making it a quick trek downtown on the C or D line. The Coolidge Corner stop is a central hub, as is the nearby Brookline Village stop. For those driving, it’s usually a quick 15-minute commute, barring traffic. Allow some extra time during rush hour, however, as the time can double to half an hour.

A collection of vintage political memorabilia featuring John F. Kennedy. The items include campaign buttons with "For President John F. Kennedy" text and his portrait, rectangular pins with images of Kennedy in casual attire at a ship's wheel, black-and-white photos of Kennedy with other men in suits, and a rectangular pin with "Leadership for the 60's Kennedy Johnson" text and portraits of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Photo by Lane Tuner / The Boston Globe

3. Take in the Vibe

Brookline boasts a vibrant food scene: The menu at the acclaimed Bar Vlaha, for instance, transports diners to northern and central Greece, and Mahaniyom serves Thai classics family-style. There’s plenty of indie shopping in Coolidge Corner: Fan favorite Brookline Booksmith is lined floor to ceiling with tomes of all genres. Mint Julep, meanwhile, has trending women’s fashions.

A plate of Thai larb salad featuring minced meat mixed with herbs, sliced shallots, and chili flakes, topped with fresh mint leaves and crispy fried shallots. The dish is accompanied by fresh cucumber slices, long green beans, and cabbage wedges on the side. The plate has a blue and white pattern and is set on a wooden surface.

Photo by Lane Tuner / The Boston Globe

4. Check out the Culture

Did you know JFK was born and raised in Brookline? Tour his childhood home, a National Historic Site, on Beals Street. Also a National Historic Site, renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted’s former residence welcomes the public to examine his home and office. The Coolidge Corner Theatre is another cultural gem, screening everything from new releases to cult classics.

A black chair with a metal frame is positioned in the aisle of a bookstore. The bookstore has wooden floors and tall bookshelves filled with colorful books on both sides. In the background, a woman and a child are seated, with the woman reading a book to the child. The ceiling is decorated with green and yellow leaf-shaped decorations, and a mural featuring a fox and flowers is visible on the back wall.

Photo by Ellen Johnson

5. Scope out the Schools

Brookline has long been a magnet for families seeking top-tier education. The town operates eight public schools serving K–8, and Brookline High School, known for its strong academics and college prep. Private options are equally robust: Maimonides School offers a highly regarded pre-K–12 Jewish education, while the Dexter Southfield School pairs rigorous academics with top-tier athletics.

This article was first published in the print edition of the February 2026 issue with the headline: “So You Want to Live in… Brookline.”

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