Brookline

In the landscape of Boston’s suburbs, Brookline Village is known for its historic housing and a spirit of connection. People drawn to living in the Village, as it’s affectionately called, seek an intentional community. “Those who choose the Village — doctors and Harvard professors and hedge fund managers — they all want to be in an urban location. One of the attractions is that they can sit on the porch and see their neighbors walking by,” says Jim Nemetz, managing broker of Hammond Residential Real Estate since 1995, who specializes in the Greater Boston region. “Doctors, in particular, are fond of the Village because they can walk to many hospitals.” Only 5 miles from Boston’s downtown area by car, bus or subway, Brookline Village offers access to Boston without sacrificing its strong community ties. Locals take pride in shopping and dining within the Village, often walking and biking to support beloved community staples. Some businesses, such as Kurkman’s Market and the Puppet Showplace Theater, have served multiple generations of Brookline Village residents. Restaurants with cuisine from around the globe are also within walking distance of most homes. On Cypress Street, options include Dolma Mediterranean Cuisine, popular for its Turkish and Greek specialties and colorful interior. On Washington Street, Mahaniyom offers a casual, authentic Thai dining experience and has been named Boston’s best Thai restaurant by several publications. There are furniture restoration shops and cheese shops, as well as an entire store for those who enjoy playing Warhammer. For weekly shopping trips, grocery stores, including Stop & Shop and Trader Joe’s, are less than 1 mile up Harvard Street. Residents of Brookline Village rarely find themselves more than a few blocks away from public green spaces. Parks like Emerson Garden and Cypress Street Park speckle the area, providing neighborhood kids with softball fields and basketball courts to practice on and playgrounds to climb while parents chat on park benches. The Village is also bordered by Brookline Reservoir and Olmsted Park, which are popular for their tranquil, tree-lined walking paths and waterside views. In addition to outdoor recreation, there are puppetry classes and shows at the Puppet Showplace Theater. The Coolidge Corner Library on Washington Street offers craft workshops and cooking lessons for teens, in addition to children’s story times in English, Japanese, Spanish and American Sign Language. Neighbors take seasonal events seriously in Brookline Village. On Halloween, for example, Brook Street is a hot destination for trick-or-treaters across the area. “The people living there spend $400 on candy because they know families are coming from all around,” Nemetz says. In the summer months, locals can pack a picnic dinner and head to Fisher Hill Reservoir Park, less than 2 miles from the Village, to enjoy free live music through the Brookline Outdoor Summer Concert series. Along paved sidewalks shaded by century-old maples, Brookline Village offers housing ranging from one-bedroom condos to early-1900s six-bedroom residences on 1-acre lots. Most single-family homes were built around the turn of the 20th century, and architectural styles include colorful Queen Annes and Victorians, as well as Greek Revivals and a few Tudor Revivals. Housing prices start around $1.4 million and usually top out at $3.8 million, though well-preserved historic residences and contemporary new builds sometimes sell for just under $6 million. For residents interested in condos, units in converted Victorian-era homes, brick row houses and those in sleek, linear complexes built in the 1970s range from $450,000 to $2 million, depending on the number of bedrooms. One of the perks of living in the Village is that children can attend schools within the Public Schools of Brookline, a district that not only receives an A-plus on Niche but also ranks as the No. 3 best school district in Massachusetts. Depending on a family’s address, students may be zoned for John D. Runkle School, William H. Lincoln School or John B. Pierce School for kindergarten through eighth grade. Runkle and Lincoln earn A scores on Niche, and Pierce gets an A-plus. Pierce is currently being rebuilt, so classes will take place in the Old Lincoln School and Fisher Hill until construction is complete. All students can then transition to A-plus-rated Brookline High School. Brookline High proudly celebrates the diversity of its student body — there are children from more than 69 countries at the school. Local families can also find an A-plus-rated private school within the community — Maimonides School teaches preschool through 12th grade students. With Harvard Medical School and several other renowned colleges nearby, students do not have to leave the greater Boston area to access a world-class education. Brookline Village is well positioned for residents seeking access to the greater Boston area by car or by public transportation. State Route 9 passes through the community, connecting drivers to Interstates 95 and 90. To avoid the stress of driving in downtown traffic, many residents utilize the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, locally known as “the T,” which offers both bus and subway service into Boston. There are two Green Line subway stops in the Village, Brookline Hills and Brookline Village, and there are bus stops scattered around the Village. Employees of the many hospitals within the Longwood Medical and Academic Area often choose to walk or bike to workplaces just 1 to 2 miles east of their homes. Those considering a home in Brookline Village should be aware that, as with many Boston-area neighborhoods, city noise and flooding can potentially disrupt life. Some low-lying properties fall within flood zones — some buyers may be required to purchase flood insurance. Homes closest to major roadways will often hear the sound of passing cars, especially during rush hour.

Cleveland Circle is a convenient community, and some may say it’s home to the best pizza in Boston. This Brookline neighborhood has quite a few Boston College students, but there’s more to Cleveland Circle than keggers and tailgates. With access to several parks, “it’s a beautiful blend of urban and suburban,” says Joan Solomont, Realtor with Coldwell Banker and resident of Brookline for 47 years. “You’re close to Boston College, and you can also get on the T and go anywhere — The Museum of Fine Arts, shopping on Newbury Street, the Financial District and even Fenway Park.” When the original trolley line was added in the late 1800s, mansions and row houses sprang up alongside the tracks. Today, a mix of the original row houses and late 1900s condos provide housing to those who enjoy Cleveland Circle’s location and amenities. Housing in Cleveland Circle consists of multi-family options that vary in age and condition. Elegantly curved historic brick bow-front rowhouses are interspersed with the stark, clean-lined facades of 1970s-era brick condo buildings. Units in the newer condos generally list between $750,000 and $850,000, but those in tastefully remodeled historic rowhouses often sell in the $1.2 million to $1.7 million range. On Beacon Street, a strip of popular restaurants offers residents quick meal options. Pino’s on Beacon Street has been in business since 1962, and in that time, has won many awards and recognitions. Despite this, diners won’t see any plaques hanging on the walls because the owner prefers to let the food speak for itself. Next door to it is Eagle’s Deli & Restaurant, which has garnered media attention for its “gigantic” 6-pound challenge burger. Solomont mentions that Washington Square, which is just a short walk or a quick trip on the T, is a hot spot for dining out. One of its newest additions is Bar Vlaha, which specializes in Vlachian-style Greek cuisine; patrons can feast on hearty feta pies, fava beans and slow-roasted lamb. Those wanting to prepare their own culinary masterpieces can find Star Market within a short walk of most area homes; other shopping is accessible via the T. There is always something to do in the city, from Boston Red Socks games at Fenway Park to performances at Symphony Hall. Each April, locals can cheer on Boston Marathon runners as they make their final push down Beacon Street. To see Fourth of July fireworks, residents can take the T to the Charles River Esplanade, Solomont says. When the morning bell rings, the neighborhood’s kindergarten through eighth-grade students head to the John D. Runkle School, which gets an A on Niche. Runkle School students participate in cross-grade partnerships, which often occur in reading, poetry and science. These partnerships give younger students someone to look up to and older students the opportunity to serve as mentors. After completing their studies at Runkle, students may attend A-plus-rated Brookline High School, the No. 1 public high school in Norfolk County, according to Niche. The Boston area is also rich with private school opportunities — some highly accredited schools in the vicinity include Dexter Southfield and Beaver Country Day School, both of which receive A-plus Niche scores. The Cleveland Circle community is home to the Jean B. Waldstein Playground, which offers a splash pad, play structures and, most importantly, ample green space. “It’s a phenomenal park,” Solomont says. “One of the beautiful things about Brookline is that you’re never more than a five-minute walk from a park.” Just west of Cleveland Circle is the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, surrounded by a walking path and the Reilly Memorial Recreation Center. In summer, locals can swim in their outdoor pool; during winter months, the indoor skating rink is open for free skating when it isn’t being used by youth hockey teams. On Beacon Street and Chestnut Hill Avenue, locals can catch the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (the T) C and D Green Line trains, respectively. There are also bike lanes along Beacon Street, as well as well-maintained sidewalks and crosswalks for those who prefer to get around on foot. Though the neighborhood has a pharmacy, grocery stores and a couple of picturesque stone churches, access to nearby Boston College and the rest of downtown Boston are major draws.

In Coolidge Corner, only 5.5 miles from Downtown Boston, residents can leave their cars behind and still be “at the wheel” of city life. Jesse Gustafson, a local real estate agent with Sotheby’s International Realty, says that a lot of people moving into the city are cutting ties with car ownership. Folks want to live in Coolidge because they can run a few errands on foot or take the Green Line C branch to Downtown Boston. Plus, on-street parking isn’t allowed overnight in Brookline. “People move here for the city lifestyle,” Gustafson says. “And the architecture can’t be rivaled anywhere else.” In Coolidge Corner, the city lifestyle also means plenty of shopping and dining options on top of its convenient location. “What drives people here are the restaurants and the bars and the shops, and the closeness to Boston and all the hospitals and Longwood,” says Ryan McCormick, a realtor and the manager at Metro Realty Corporation who’s been selling here for nine years. “I’d say it’s the most in-demand place in Brookline because you’re close to the city but at the same time, you’re living in a suburb.” Tree-shaded sidewalks line Coolidge Corner’s streets, making the entire neighborhood easily walkable. More urban-leaning sections have classic stone and brick rowhouses and 1920s brownstones, but historic houses dating back as far as the 1890s are also common here. Most houses — no matter their age — are simple Victorians, American Foursquares and a range of colonial-style homes. These houses are often restored and sometimes converted into duplexes or condominiums. A one-bedroom condo could go for as little as $600,000, but a two-bedroom, two-bath condo generally costs more like $1 million. Single-family homes start at around $2 million and can climb to $10 million for a large 7-bedroom home. The market here ebbs and flows with the seasons, but it can be really busy. “It’s very cyclical,” McCormick says. “In Boston, especially in Brookline, medical residents get assigned like March 15th through the 20th, so that’s when the season kicks off. If it’s priced right and it’s in the right location and it’s the right time of year, usually it’ll sell in under a week.” Described by locals as big city living with a small-town feel, nearly everything here is within walking distance of the same central downtown area. When residents need essentials, they head to Trader Joe’s, which Gustafson says is almost always packed. “Anywhere you put one of those, people flock,” she says. “It’s on a tiny corner, but it’s one of the busiest stores in the country.” Stop & Shop and Maruichi Japanese Food & Deli are also in the neighborhood, and locals enjoy walking to the Public Library of Brookline or to Brookline Booksmith to adopt their next reads or crossing the street to Coolidge Corner Theater to catch events like movie and indie film showings and sing-alongs. Fenway Park is also only about a mile away, making it a dream location for baseball fans. “A lot of people will park in the area and walk down to Fenway Park, and they’ll come to the bars and restaurants before the game,” McCormick says. Like the rest of Boston, Coolidge Corner’s restaurant scene is on point. “Rod D is a great Thai place,” Gustafson says. “It’s a block from my office, and I go there all the time.” Prairie Fire is a go-to- spot for wood-fired pizza, FuGaKyu Japanese Cuisine offers sushi in an upscale, airy setting and Ganko Ittetsu Ramen has must-try Sapporo-style ramen. Baseball season at Fenway Park is always a big deal, with over 80 home games taking place at the venue between early April and early October — and that’s on years that the Boston Red Sox doesn’t compete for the division championship and World Series. Coolidge Corner Theater also hosts events like film festivals and director Q&As, making it worth locals’ whiles to keep an eye on the theater’s schedule. Gustafson and McCormick both note that the well-respected Brookline Public Schools — which Niche gives an A-plus and lists as the third-best district in the state — are another big reason folks move to Coolidge Corner. “With Brookline, it’s essentially its own town in the middle of Boston,” McCormick says. “A lot of families, their kids can go to Brookline school district, they don’t have to go to Boston schools.” Children can attend The Florida Ruffin Ridley School, which changed its name in 2020 from the Coolidge Corner School and is still listed under that name on Niche, where it has an A rating, from prekindergarten through eighth grade. Teachers, parents and students maintain a school garden that helps students learn about the environment and sourcing local food. Older children attend Brookline High School, which has an A-plus and earns Niche’s recognition as the best public high school in Norfolk County and the fifth best in the state. There are also several private schools in the area, including Meridian Academy, a sixth through 12th grade school with an A-plus rating. Amory Playground is popular for its tennis courts and athletic fields and a pond that’s frequented by herons and ducks. Griggs Park, a circular park set on former wetlands, is home to weeping willows and walking paths. There’s a small playground at its heart, but this park is particularly beloved by dogs and their owners because of one essential rule — dogs are permitted off-leash at certain times. Winthrop Square has a particularly large playground, including a large row of swings, and a rose garden. Pocket parks are also scattered throughout the community, ensuring that residents are always close to at least one park. “Brookline’s Department of Public Works does an excellent job with our park facilities,” Gustafson says. Coolidge Corner is walkable by design, and it’s easy for locals to take the Green Line downtown. When they do need to drive, Beacon Street runs straight through the neighborhood’s heart. Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are only about a mile away.

Situated under 10 miles outside of Boston, South Brookline serves as a luxurious commuter haven with highly rated schools, golfing communities and striking estates. The neighborhood also fosters a multicultural environment. Stacey Steck, Vice President of Residential Sales at Advisors Living and Brookline resident for almost three decades, says, “The town is very diverse. I once attended a potluck dinner where I was informed there were 20+ languages spoken in the room.” Connected to the city by the Green Line nearby, locals can easily access urban attractions and then return to a peaceful, quieter home base. Amenities are available in the neighborhood, too, so residents can shop, dine and find entertainment without having to venture into the hubbub of the city. The Public Schools of Brookline system receives recognition on a national scale and is named on Niche’s list of top 100 districts in America. Baker School, which earns an A grade on Niche, was completely renovated in 2000 and enrolls students from kindergarten through Grade 8. Brookline High School has an A-plus and earns the No. 5 spot for best public high schools in the state on Niche. Brookline High offers numerous alternative programs, including Career and Technical Education, as well as travel opportunities to destinations from Mexico to Cambodia. “The community’s attitude is one of making a positive difference in the world. For example, my daughter attended Brookline High School, where the students brought forth an initiative that ended up being implemented to have CVS pharmacy ban the sale of cigarettes nationwide,” Steck says. Dexter Southfield, for prekindergarten through Grade 12, is a private option that scores an A-plus. Students from over 78 communities throughout Greater Boston commute to Dexter Southfield, which sits in the heart of the South Brookline neighborhood. It also has a successful sports program, with 30% of its students advancing to college-level athletics. Larz Anderson Park, the largest park in Brookline and home to the auto museum, allows for impressive views of Boston from its highest point. This space features athletic fields, ponds, pathways and an outdoor skating rink. Brookline Reservoir Park is a 32-acre area in the northern tip of the community. A walking trail surrounds a man-made body of water, which is popular for fishing. Nearby Skyline Park, the newest park in Brookline, has a playground, picnic area and synthetic turf field. Dane Park attracts geology enthusiasts, as numerous volcanic formations sit among the wildlife in these woods and along the trails. Golf enthusiasts flock to the South Brookline area for its many historic courses. The club was one of the five founding groups of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and has hosted the second most national championship matches on its greens. Previous events in both tennis and golf include the US Open, the Ryder Cup and the US Women’s Amateur. The club also features tennis, swimming and ice-skating facilities. The public Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course is a small, challenging course with a driving range, clubhouse and grill. For a night out, Beacon Street, about 3-to-4 miles away, has plenty of dining and bar options. Some include Washington Square Tavern or Taberna de Haro, which features classic European sidewalk seating. Locals can head to Harvard Street for Club Dante, where Italian fare meets a unique cocktail menu. South Brookline residents can find numerous shopping centers and strip malls within a few miles of home. The Shops at Putterham include several locally owned conveniences, including a gift store and florist, a Starbucks, Putterham Market and other restaurants. Residents can meet friends for dinner at Putterham Grille or pick up a pastry from Cheryl Ann’s Bakery. Right next door, The Shops at Chestnut Hill provide clothing stores, including J. Crew and Madewell, and Wegmans is right across the street. Star Market is also available at The Street shopping mall, along with a Showcase SuperLux Cinema. Residents can access plenty of nearby Target locations, the closest being about 3 miles away. Many events take place within a few miles of South Brookline, including the Coolidge Corner Art Festival and Brookline Day, which features live music, vendors, games and food in a celebration of the community. Locals can also visit the Coolidge Corner Theatre, which is a nonprofit cinema and cultural center. Fenway Park sits about 4 miles from the neighborhood for those wanting to catch a Red Sox game. For activities within South Brookline, Larz Anderson Park has weekly Lawn Event car shows from May to October. Housing options include both contemporary and classic colonials, with some Tudors, ranch styles and Cape Cods thrown into the mix. Three-to-five-bedroom homes typically fall in the $1 million to $2 million range. Houses that have six or more bedrooms often start above $3 million and can exceed $10 million. Sidewalks line some residential streets, convenient for those who enjoy walking the dog or going for a jog right out the front door. South Brookline radiates greenery, and most properties feature front lawns, lush bushes and towering trees. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) buses run through South Brookline as one option for public transportation. Transit stations for routes into Boston include Reservoir for the Green Line and Forest Hills for the Orange Line. These stations are within 4 miles of most residences and can be reached by bus. Major thoroughfares provide access to neighboring areas, as well, including Interstates 90, 95 and 93. For air travel, Boston Logan International Airport is about 10 miles away. Residents in South Brookline also have quick access to health care, with St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, as well as Bringham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, both under 5 miles away. Other facilities, such as countless temples and Christian churches, can be found throughout Brookline, mostly north of Boylston Street.

Initially developed as a part of the summer getaway community of Brookline, Washington Square offers convenience and community. The neighborhood is between Aspinwall and Corey Hills, two of Brookline’s larger hills, with Beacon Street right in between. Beacon Street is the beating heart of the neighborhood, connecting residents easily to the excitement of downtown Boston. Residents have quick access to a wide variety of shopping and dining along the street, as well as six different light rail stations, so no home is too far from the rail. Just outside Beacon Street, residents can find a wide variety of condos and single-family homes next to the highly rated schools in the area. The neighborhood also offers a variety of popular parks atop the hills for both fun in the sun and picturesque views of the Boston Skyline. Beacon Street runs through the center of the neighborhood and is home to shopping and dining in the Brookline area, most of which is mere feet from residents' front doors. Locals often frequent Golden Temple, one of the more well-known restaurants that offers “excellent Chinese food” and “music and dancing on the weekend,” says Vena Priestly, a sales and leasing agent with Rise Realty who has been serving the area for over 5 years. Residents can also be seen frequenting The Abbey, which is “one of the most well-known pubs in town” and a popular spot to meet up for a drink with friends. Athan’s Bakery sits on the corner of Beacon and Washington Street and offers sweet treats daily. Residents can stock up their pantries at the nearby Star Market on Beacon Street or Whole Foods less than half a mile up Washington Street. Residents of Washington Square have quick access to various transportation, primarily due to light rail stops from Summit Avenue to Dean Road along Beacon Street. Both the C and D lines run through the neighborhood quickly and consistently, so “a lot of people end up walking to the train stations, even if they have cars,” Priestly says. However, car owners can also make use of the neighborhood’s location as it is an “easy commute to downtown and I-90,” Priestly says. Logan International Airport is 8 miles away for locals looking to take a trip, and St. Elizabeth's Medical Center is less than 2 miles away for residents seeking medical care. The variety of homes in Washington Square can suit almost any homebuyer. Historic homes often draw from Queen Anne, Cape Cod or brownstone architectural styles, while more modern homes take on a simpler postmodern design and shape. Residents can also find condos for sale with amenities like concierge services and fitness centers. “There are a lot of historic buildings,” Priestly says, “No two houses are the same.” Prices in the neighborhood can range from around $400,000 to S3.5 million. For many residents, the nearby schools are one of the main reasons for moving to Washington Square. Michael Driscoll School, the only public school in the Washington Square neighborhood, offers a kindergarten through eighth-grade learning program that receives an A rating on Niche. It's also one of the few schools in the country to provide an immersive “Mandarin Chinese language program” for all grade levels, Priestly says. Students can then finish up at the A-plus rated Brookline High School, which is the top-rated high school in the county and the No. 5 high school in the state according to Niche. Residents can choose between fantastic playground amenities and exciting views in Washington Square parks that are just a short walk from home. Locals often head up to Corey Hill Playground, also known as Summit Ave Park to some, which offers a wood and stone-themed playset and “great views of the Boston skyline,” Priestly says. Local athletes can also head to nearby Waldstein Park, sometimes called Dean Park, for its various amenities, including seven tennis courts, a playset and a huge field and baseball diamond. Many parks also have paths cutting through neighborhoods to allow residents to enjoy the fun faster. Community events often take place in the center of Washington Square. In the summer, residents can find neighbors gathering atop Corey Hill to view Fourth of July fireworks and celebrate with friends and family. At the beginning of December every year, the community holds the First Light Festival, a celebration that kicks off the holiday season. Raffles, food, music and performances are all available during this celebration of the winter season. Other events around the wider Brookline community include Brookline Day, a festival offering live music, food, prizes and activities for kids, such as bounce houses and face painting.