When it comes to meeting their essential needs, Brookline residents face the steepest challenge in housing. With a median home value now exceeding $1 million, Brookline has seen a 64% increase since 2000, far exceeding the 43% growth in the state and 35% in the nation.

The housing affordability ratio (which compares median home value to median income) is extremely high in Brookline at 8.6, far above the 2-3 range considered affordable and the 4.8 for the state and 3.5 for the nation.

Renters fare a bit better in Brookline, paying 32% of their household income on rent, a bit below the state level (34%), and similar to renters nationwide (31%). Overall, considering both homeowners and renters, 36% of housing units in Brookline are expensive enough to be considered “cost-burdened,” above the levels in both the state (34%) and nation (30%).

Other critical needs are transportation, food and access to open space. In 2017-21, 28% of households in Brookline did not have access to a vehicle, higher than the state rate of 12% and the national rate of 8%. The rate in Brookline increased by 8 points since 2000.

Relatively few Brookline residents use the SNAP program (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) to help afford food. In 2017-21, 6% of Brookline households received SNAP benefits, down one point from 5% in 2012-16 and lower than the state (12%) and nation (11%).

Over 565 acres – or 13% - of land in Brookline was classified as protected and therefore preserved from development to allow public access and for nature and wildlife to flourish. This was a higher level than what is found in comparable local areas: Cambridge (11%), Arlington (7%) and Everett (5%).