Brookline, Massachusetts Income Statistics
Brookline Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A+
Brookline Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Brookline | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $143,651 | $104,336 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $107,259 | $80,230 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 35.2% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 37.3% | 22.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Brookline is about 38% higher than in Massachusetts. Income has been growing slower in Brookline (4.3%/yr) than in Massachusetts (4.9%/yr).
About 35% of adults in Brookline earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Massachusetts average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Brookline, Massachusetts grew by 56.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $143,651 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Brookline
| Metric | Brookline | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.474 | 0.531 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $124,879 | $90,842 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $93,524 | $75,629 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.1% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Brookline, it is 0.474, lower than Massachusetts's 0.531, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 34% more than women's income in Brookline, Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, a 34% wage gap accumulates to roughly $1,097,425 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Brookline, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 27% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 34% in 2020, and was narrowest at 22% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,773 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Brookline | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 30.1% | 18.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 26 | 25 | 22 |
Approximately 1,404 people are unemployed in Brookline, Massachusetts.
The average commute time in Brookline is 26 minutes, longer than the 25 minutes in Massachusetts.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Brookline, Massachusetts has fallen from 4.4% to 3.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.0% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.8% in 2019.
Brookline, MA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
Brookline, MA is the 4th largest of the 6 cities compared here, 63,198 residents against a local median of 81,027. The measure that sets Brookline, MA apart most is income growth: 4.3%/yr, 25% below the local median of 5.8%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The cities themselves spread 2.3%/yr on income growth, so Brookline, MA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Brookline, MA has the 5th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookline, MA | 63,198 | $143,651 #3/6 | 4.3%/yr #5/6 | 3.6% #3/6 | 0.474 #3/6 |
| Cambridge, MA | 117,266 | $131,513 | 5.8%/yr | 3.4% | 0.521 |
| Watertown, MA | 35,594 | $126,987 | 4.3%/yr | 5.3% | 0.466 |
| Newton, MA | 88,909 | $190,683 | 5.1%/yr | 3.8% | 0.523 |
| Somerville, MA | 81,027 | $132,942 | 6.6%/yr | 3.0% | 0.470 |
| Belmont, MA | 27,165 | $187,422 | 6.6%/yr | 4.3% | 0.485 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Brookline, Massachusetts has an overall wealth index grade of A+, making it somewhat better than Massachusetts, and far better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Brookline, Massachusetts.
How Rich Is Brookline, Massachusetts?
Brookline has a wealth index grade of A+. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A+ grade means it is one of the most prosperous areas in the country. The median household income is $143,651, about 38% higher than the Massachusetts average of $104,336.
How fast is household income rising in Brookline, Massachusetts?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Brookline, Massachusetts rose 56%, from $91,998 to $143,651. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Massachusetts as a whole: +56% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Brookline in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Brookline, Massachusetts was $142,503, up 7% from $133,558 in 2022. The Massachusetts median that year was $101,513.
What was the median household income in Brookline in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Brookline, Massachusetts was $116,628. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $143,651.
How many people earn six figures in Brookline, Massachusetts?
Yes. 35% of adults in Brookline, Massachusetts earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 21% (about 1 in 5) in Massachusetts. 37% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 22% in Massachusetts.
Is unemployment high in Brookline, Massachusetts?
Unemployment in Brookline, Massachusetts is only 3.6%, well below the Massachusetts rate of 5.1%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Brookline, Massachusetts?
The Gini coefficient in Brookline is 0.474. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Brookline, Massachusetts?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Brookline, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 27% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 34% in 2020, and was narrowest at 22% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,773 since 2009.
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