community
Change in Total Population
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau

What does this measure?

The percent change in number of residents of a geographic area since 2000.

Why is this important?

Population measures provide insight on the changing size and face of communities. Changes in total population are a measure of the overall health of a community and its ability to attract and retain residents.

How is Brookline doing?

Since 2000, the overall population in Brookline has grown 10%, on par with state rate, and lower than the nation's increase of 18%. From 2000 to 2021, Brookline's population increased from roughly 57,000 to 62,700. Middlesex is the largest county, with about 1,614,000 residents, followed by Essex County at 807,000 and Norfolk County at 725,000. Essex has had the highest percentage of growth since 2000 at 12%, followed closely by Norfolk at 11%, and Middlesex at 10%.

Among comparison localities, Brookline is the third largest at 62,700. Cambridge (117,000) and Newton (87,400) have larger populations, while Everett (48,600), and Arlington (45,600) have fewer people than Brookline. All comparison localities saw population growth. The fastest growing locality since 2000 was Everett which grew 27%, followed by Cambridge 16%, Brookline 10%, Arlington 8%, and Newton 5%.

Notes about the data

Rate is percentage change from 2000. Data for this indicator are released annually in July.

Change in Total Population
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
BrooklineN/A0.4%0.5%0.4%0.3%0.1%0.4%0.9%1.7%2.3%2.8%3.1%3.4%4.0%4.0%3.7%3.8%4.0%3.8%3.7%10.9%10.0%
Arlington, Middlesex CountyN/A0.3%-0.1%-0.6%-1.0%-1.5%-1.6%-1.2%-0.4%0.6%1.1%2.4%3.5%4.5%5.3%6.0%6.8%7.1%7.4%7.5%9.5%7.7%
Cambridge, Middlesex CountyN/A0.7%0.6%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.5%1.0%2.0%3.3%3.8%4.5%6.5%10.6%11.5%12.0%14.2%15.3%16.6%17.4%16.2%15.6%
Everett, Middlesex CountyN/A1.3%1.7%2.0%2.3%2.6%3.3%4.5%6.1%8.0%8.9%10.4%11.7%13.0%16.2%19.3%20.3%20.8%22.2%21.7%28.8%27.2%
Newton, Middlesex CountyN/A0.5%0.1%-0.3%-0.6%-1.0%-0.8%-0.5%0.3%1.5%1.9%2.8%4.2%4.7%5.7%6.1%6.0%6.4%6.1%5.9%6.3%4.7%
Norfolk CountyN/A0.4%0.6%0.4%0.4%0.2%0.5%1.0%1.8%2.5%3.2%4.2%5.0%5.9%6.5%6.8%7.2%7.7%8.1%8.7%11.6%11.4%
Essex CountyN/A0.9%1.2%1.1%0.9%0.7%0.8%1.0%1.5%2.2%2.7%3.9%4.7%5.7%6.7%7.4%7.8%8.4%8.9%9.1%11.9%11.6%
Middlesex CountyN/A0.5%0.2%-0.1%-0.4%-0.7%-0.6%-0.1%0.8%2.0%2.6%4.1%5.3%6.5%7.5%8.2%8.8%9.5%9.8%10.0%11.4%10.2%
MassachusettsN/A0.8%1.1%1.2%1.0%0.8%1.0%1.3%1.9%2.6%3.1%4.2%4.9%5.7%6.5%7.0%7.5%8.0%8.4%8.6%10.7%10.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Rate is percentage change since 2000.




Total Population
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Brookline57,00857,25257,30657,22457,18157,08057,24357,51657,95658,34258,61358,77158,94859,30559,30259,11959,16259,28659,18859,12163,21562,726
Arlington, Middlesex County42,36242,50642,30242,12141,91941,72541,69341,83742,18842,63442,82343,39343,84644,25044,61444,91045,22445,38945,48945,53146,37445,617
Cambridge, Middlesex County101,322102,048101,959101,727101,542101,440101,876102,313103,298104,665105,148105,884107,886112,036112,993113,471115,685116,869118,151118,927117,779117,090
Everett, Middlesex County38,17238,68538,80538,94039,05339,17139,43739,87140,50641,23641,55342,14842,64243,12644,36545,52745,90846,10146,63346,45149,16548,557
Newton, Middlesex County83,51883,90483,61883,30582,98682,71082,81083,09683,80784,76585,08985,82787,02987,47988,26988,58888,56988,83688,64188,41488,78787,453
Norfolk County650,265653,137653,860653,032652,630651,538653,421656,582661,703666,301670,910677,782682,865688,345692,239694,502697,079700,599703,230706,775725,981724,505
Essex County723,496730,206732,232731,544729,783728,877729,455730,664734,361739,086743,082751,507757,338764,563771,653776,865779,847784,453788,183789,034809,829807,074
Middlesex County1,465,2441,473,0211,468,4881,464,0831,459,2321,454,8681,456,5281,463,1061,477,0491,494,7641,503,1331,524,8481,542,8671,560,2041,574,9931,585,4321,594,6641,603,9431,608,4701,611,6991,632,0021,614,742
Massachusetts6,349,3646,397,6346,417,2066,422,5656,412,2816,403,2906,410,0846,431,5596,468,9676,517,6136,547,7856,613,5836,663,0056,713,3156,762,5966,794,2286,823,6086,859,7896,882,6356,892,5037,029,9176,984,723

Source: U.S. Census Bureau




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INDICATORS TREND
Change in Total Population 1
Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Language Diversity 1
Increasing
Foreign-Born Population 1
Increasing
Population by Age 1
Increasing
People with Disabilities 1
Increasing
Voter Registration -1
Decreasing
Voter Participation 1
Increasing
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
Incarceration Rate by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Total Jobs 10 Not Applicable*
Unemployment Rate 10 Not Applicable*
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
Living Wage 10 Not Applicable*
Median Household Income 0
Maintaining
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
Income in Relation to Poverty Level -1
Decreasing
People Living in Poverty 1
Increasing
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
People Living in Poverty by Age -1
Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Females Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Seniors Living in Poverty 1
Increasing
Share of Workers who are Professionals by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Access to Financial Services by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Student Performance on Grade 3 English by Student Subgroup 10 Not Applicable*
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group 10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Overall Housing Cost Burden -1
Decreasing
Median Home Value 0
Maintaining
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Cost of Homeownership 1
Increasing
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Cost of Renting 1
Increasing
Cost of Rent by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP 1
Increasing
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Food Insecurity 10 Not Applicable*
Households Without Vehicles 1
Increasing
Means of Transportation to Work by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
Protected Land 10 Not Applicable*
Percent of Days with Good Air Quality 10 Not Applicable*
Early Prenatal Care 10 Not Applicable*
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Drug Poisoning Mortality Rate 10 Not Applicable*
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions 10 Not Applicable*
People 65 or Older Living Alone 1
Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Arrest Rate by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
Incarceration Rate by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Females Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Share of Workers who are Professionals by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Student Performance on Grade 3 English by Student Subgroup 10 Not Applicable*
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group 10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Median Home Value by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Cost of Rent by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*


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