Brookline by the numbers: 1 − 129,000,000

Only 1 Brookline, Massachusetts, 3 Libraries, 6.8 square miles, over 58,000 residents of which 4,584 students are in one of eight Pre K-8 public schools and 1,732 are in high school (76 nations represented and speak 57 languages); 30% of the students are from homes where English is not the primary language.  An astounding 1,200 employees are responsible and it’s all done with a budget of only $72.1 million.

Brookline is made up of “neighborhoods” referred to as where you live, work and/or shop and most mentioned by name are affectionately known as Coolidge Corner, JFK Crossing, Washington Square, Lower Beacon/St. Mary’s, Chestnut Hill, Brookline Village and Putterham Circle. Fin more info here:  http://www.brooklinechamber.com/

Brookline homes:  26,413 housing units at an average density of 3,889.6 per square mile; 4,554 Single family homes of which 134 sold since January for the average of $1.5M (up from $1.4M in 2011) and highest ($10.5M) sold in September.  9,741 condominiums of which 468 sold since January averaging $571,000.Most people in Brookline live in one of the 1,771 multifamily properties which include the likes of Dexter Park on Freeman Street which recently sold for over $129,000,000.  Good news for Brookline, and has a yearly tax bill of $1,254,213.18 which isn’t  far from the median single family sale price since January of $1,517,929.

Brookline-ites:  The racial makeup was 73.3% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 15.6% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. 5.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.  By the way, Brookline’s median age in 2010 was 34 yrs. 82.6% of which were male.  Those under 18 − 16..6%;  18-24 − 11.7%;  25-44 − 37.3%; 45-64 − 21.9%;  65+ = 12.4%  Where are you in Brookline and some of what’s nearby - Neighborhood Information.  Who is watching out for these 48 Neighborhood  Associations?
Food:  Speaking of diversity, enjoy over 300 to eat and it’s rumored that Sushi restaurants/sq. mile may have topped Chinese food.  It takes a lot to open a restaurant but the Brookline Health Department decided to help make it easier - A Guide to opening a Food Establishment in the Town of Brookline (PDF) . Then there are those 10 newly licensed licensed Food Trucks.  Too much scoop for this blog!

Other answers to ‘WHY Brookline?’:   36 parks, 22 playgrounds, 24 fields, 255 basketball courts,  4 nature sanctuaries,  38 tennis courts (6 clay), 325 Commercial Area flower barrels, and over 50,000 trees in the parks, open spaces and public right-of-ways (cared for by Parks & Open Space Div of Dept of Public Works).  Approximately 620 acres (15% of Brookline Land) is protected open space.

Police - safety in numbers - 140 officers, 40 dispatch and other administrative staff with a $15M budget

Fire - 7,500 calls / yr., 7 fire companies, 5 engines,2 ladder trucks, and associated support and reserve equipment are housed in 5 fire stations. The assigned staff total 147, including 4 deputy chiefs, 7 captains, 21 lieutenants, and 115 firefighters.

Brookline’s Health Department cares so much that they’re the last community in MA to license its day care facilities.

Plan for responsible growth: FIVE YEAR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN

3 Libraries - Main, Coolidge Corner, and Putterham branches who have over 480 magazines, an archive of photos and part of the Minuteman System.

Miscellaneous: 5 private k-8 schools, 6 Post Secondary plus parts of 4 others schools (incl. BU & BC) located in Brookline

PS. A most important program for Brookline’s most loved residents (and welcomed non-residents): Green Dog Program – Town of Brookline.
Other questions to answer such as # parking meters, parking tickets, traffic lights, miles of roads…just ask and I’ll be happy to search.

David Friedberg has worked in Brookline for over 25 years and can be reached at [email protected]