What does this measure?
The share of housing units with people paying 30% or more of their income in rent or ownership costs.
Why is this important?
The federal government considers 30% of income a threshold for affordable housing. People paying more than 30% are considered to be cost-burdened.
How is Brookline doing?
In 2017-21, 36% of housing units in Brookline were considered cost burdened. This was higher than both the national and state levels of 30% and 34% respectively. The rates for Brookline, the state and nation declined slightly since 2012-16.
Among comparison localities, the share of units with cost-burdened residents was highest in Everett (49%). Cambridge was similar to Brookline at 35%. Newton and Arlington had lower shares of cost burdened housing units at 28% and 26% respectively.
Notes about the data
Multi-year figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the fourth quarter.
| 2012-16 | 2017-21 | |
|---|---|---|
| Brookline | 37% | 36% |
| Arlington, Middlesex County | 30% | 26% |
| Cambridge, Middlesex County | 37% | 35% |
| Everett, Middlesex County | 51% | 49% |
| Newton, Middlesex County | 31% | 28% |
| Norfolk County | 34% | 32% |
| Essex County | 37% | 37% |
| Middlesex County | 33% | 32% |
| Massachusetts | 36% | 34% |
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.
| 2012-16 | 2017-21 | |
|---|---|---|
| Brookline | 9,252 | 9,684 |
| Arlington, Middlesex County | 5,615 | 5,019 |
| Cambridge, Middlesex County | 16,148 | 16,655 |
| Everett, Middlesex County | 7,852 | 8,290 |
| Newton, Middlesex County | 9,629 | 8,799 |
| Norfolk County | 87,668 | 89,315 |
| Essex County | 108,021 | 114,473 |
| Middlesex County | 196,852 | 197,239 |
| Massachusetts | 918,388 | 917,503 |
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.
| INDICATORS | TREND |
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