The S.S. Pierce Building's clock tower at Coolidge Corner in Brookline.

Living in Brookline, Massachusetts

Brookline is a town almost entirely surrounded by the city of Boston, forming a Norfolk County exclave inside Suffolk County's borders. Settled in 1638 as the hamlet of Muddy River, it was incorporated as its own town in 1705 and voted in 1873 to remain independent rather than be annexed by Boston. Its northern neighborhoods, including Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village, are dense and transit-served, while the southern part of town is more suburban.

Brookline Village Coolidge Corner Chestnut Hill

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated September 25, 2026

Photo: Pesotsky, CC BY 3.0

Brookline at a glance

$10.24Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
$26,237Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
10-20 minDrive to Boston
NorfolkCounty

Brookline's villages and zip codes

Brookline uses several ZIP codes by neighborhood, including 02445, 02446 (Coolidge Corner), 02447 (Brookline Village) and 02467 (Chestnut Hill).

Brookline villages and zip codes
Area	Zip code	Where it is
Brookline Village	02447	The town's historic center near the Muddy River, close to Town Hall and the Green Line D branch.
Coolidge Corner	02446	A commercial and residential hub on Harvard Street and Beacon Street, anchored by the S.S. Pierce Building and Coolidge Corner Theatre.
Chestnut Hill	02467	A neighborhood on Brookline's western edge shared with Newton and Boston, near reservoir land and Boston College.

Things to do in Brookline, MA

Start with Coolidge Corner Theatre and John F. Kennedy National Historic Site, then 3 more below.

Coolidge Corner Theatre
An Art Deco movie palace operating since 1933, screening independent, classic and first-run films at Coolidge Corner.
Year-round
290 Harvard St, Brookline, MA
John F. Kennedy National Historic Site
The National Park Service site preserving President Kennedy's birthplace and childhood home.
Year-round
83 Beals St, Brookline, MA
Plan a visit
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
The former home and office of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of the Emerald Necklace park system.
Year-round
99 Warren St, Brookline, MA
Plan a visit
Larz Anderson Park
A 64-acre town park with walking paths, a pond, sledding hill and the Larz Anderson Auto Museum.
FreeYear-round
Brookline, MA
Puppet Showplace Theater
A long-running puppetry theater presenting family performances.
Year-round
Brookline, MA

More worth a visit

The Country ClubA historic private golf club that has hosted the U.S. Open multiple times.

A little history

Brookline was settled in 1638 as the hamlet of Muddy River, part of Boston, and was set off and incorporated as its own town in 1705.

In 1873, Brookline residents voted against annexation by the city of Boston, preserving its independence as neighboring towns like Roxbury and West Roxbury were absorbed.

Early 20th-century zoning in much of Brookline restricted multi-family triple-decker housing and required single-family homes in many residential areas.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Brookline

The Emerald Necklace park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted runs through Brookline, linking ponds and parkland with town parks like Larz Anderson.

Olmsted ParkPart of the Emerald Necklace, with ponds and paths along Brookline's border with Boston.
Larz Anderson ParkA 64-acre park with a pond, walking paths and open lawns.

Where to eat in Brookline: restaurants and coffee

2 places in Brookline to try, including specialty grocery / deli and japanese deli. No one paid to be listed.

Bazaar International Gourmet
Specialty grocery / deli
A specialty food shop at Coolidge Corner carrying Russian and Eastern European groceries and prepared foods.
Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA
Maruichi Japanese Food & Deli
Japanese deli
A Japanese food and deli shop at Coolidge Corner.
Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA

Walkability and getting around Brookline

Northern Brookline, including Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village, is dense and walkable with Green Line access, while southern Brookline is more spread out and typically requires a car.

Brookline Village

333 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445

Coolidge Corner

Chestnut Hill

Drive times

Boston, about 5 miles10-20 min
Logan International Airport, about 10 miles20-30 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

The MBTA Green Line C and D branches run through Brookline with multiple stops, including Brookline Village, Brookline Hills and Coolidge Corner. MBTA bus routes 51, 60, 65, 66 and 86 also serve the town.

Brookline property taxes

Brookline's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.24 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $17.16. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,024 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $26,237, on an average assessed value of $2,562,186.

Brookline's FY2026 tax rates

$10.24per $1,000, residential

Residential$10.24 per $1,000
Commercial, industrial, personal property$17.16 per $1,000
Average single-family assessed value$2,562,186
Average single-family tax bill$26,237
Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Brookline offers a residential exemption (FY2026 exemption value $354,974) and has adopted the Community Preservation Act surcharge.

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal year	Residential rate
FY2022	$10.19
FY2023	$9.97
FY2024	$9.77
FY2025	$9.87
FY2026	$10.24

Look up a Brookline property

FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 617-730-2060
Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county

Buying a home in Brookline

What we check on a Brookline purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, pay-as-you-throw, smoke/co certificate.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Norfolk County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans

Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

The Muddy River, part of the Emerald Necklace along Brookline's border with Boston, has been associated with localized flooding in low-lying areas near its banks. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Brookline

Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Brookline Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 617-730-2272 to schedule.

Brookline Fire Department page

Pay-as-you-throw

Trash service is a paid subscription

Brookline uses a pay-as-you-throw system: homeowners apply through the DPW for a trash cart and pay based on the size they choose, rather than a flat tax-funded pickup. New owners should set this up soon after closing.

Smoke/CO certificate

Fire department inspection before closing

Massachusetts law requires a smoke and carbon monoxide detector compliance certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. Sellers in Brookline schedule this through the Brookline Fire Department.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

Thinking about buying in Brookline?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Brookline address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan options Our process

Moving to Brookline: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Brookline.

WaterBrookline Department of Public Works (town water)
Sewer or septicTown sewer service.
Trash and recyclingBrookline runs a pay-as-you-throw curbside program: residents subscribe through the DPW, choose a cart size, and set carts at the curb the night before or by 7 AM on collection day. Overflow trash requires purchased bags, and bulky-item pickup is scheduled online for a fee.
Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV

Town Hall offices and contacts

Brookline Town Hall is at 333 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445. Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 AM-5 PM, Friday 8 AM-12:30 PM. Main line: 617-730-2000.

Brookline, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Brookline, MA?

Brookline's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.24 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $17.16. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Brookline?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,096 a year at $10.24 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Brookline have a split tax rate?

Yes. Homes pay $10.24 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $17.16.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Brookline?

The average single-family tax bill in Brookline was $26,237 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $2,562,186.

What county is Brookline, MA in?

Brookline is in Norfolk County, though it is surrounded by Boston (Suffolk County) rather than bordering the rest of Norfolk County directly.

Is trash pickup pay-as-you-throw in Brookline?

Yes. Brookline residents subscribe to a cart-based, pay-as-you-throw trash program through the DPW.

What T lines serve Brookline?

The MBTA Green Line C and D branches run through Brookline, with stops including Brookline Village, Brookline Hills and Coolidge Corner.

What ZIP codes does Brookline use?

Brookline uses several ZIP codes by neighborhood, including 02445, 02446, 02447 and 02467.

Does Brookline border any towns besides Boston?

No; Brookline is a Norfolk County exclave almost entirely surrounded by the city of Boston.

Towns near Brookline

Neighbors of Brookline, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources

Brookline, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
Coolidge Corner - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
Public Schools of Brookline - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
Town of Brookline official website: brooklinema.gov
Brookline Fire Department: brooklinema.gov
Assessors / Property Tax Rate - Town of Brookline: brooklinema.gov
Curbside Collection Services - Town of Brookline: brooklinema.gov
Coolidge Corner photo, Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
Photo: Pesotsky, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Checked September 25, 2026.