Brookline, Massachusetts

Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, although it is not actually contiguous with the main body of the county. It borders Boston, Massachusetts and Newton, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 57,107.

Table of contents 1 Government 2 History 3 Geography 4 Demographics

Government Brookline is governed by a representative (elected) Town Meeting and a five-person Board of Selectmen.

History First settled in the early 1600s as part of Boston, Massachusetts and originally known as Muddy River, Brookline incorporated as an independent town in 1705.

President John F. Kennedy was born here. It was also the home of Frederick Law Olmsted, an influential American landscape architect, and Michael Dukakis, former Governor of Massachusetts and Democratic Presidential candidate in 1988.

Geography The town has a total area of 17.7 km² (6.8 mi²). 17.6 km² (6.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.44% water.

Demographics As of 2000, there are 57,107 people, 25,594 households, and 12,233 families residing in the town. The population density is 3,247.3/km² (8,409.7/mi²). There are 26,413 housing units at an average density of 1,501.9 persons/km² (3,889.6 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 81.08% White, 2.74% African American, 0.12% Native American, 12.83% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. 3.53% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 25,594 households out of which 21.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% are married couples living together, 7.1% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 52.2% are non-families. 36.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.18 and the average family size is 2.86.

In the town the population is spread out with 16.6% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 37.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 79.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $66,711, and the median income for a family is $92,993. Males have a median income of $56,861 versus $43,436 for females. The per capita income for the town is $44,327. 9.3% of the population and 4.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 5.3% are under the age of 18 and 7.5% are 65 or older.