Brookline, Massachusetts Rental Market Trends

Disclaimer:

Any shifts in rent prices brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic are not yet reflected in the statistics on this page. Please bear this in mind when referencing the data below, as it may not accurately describe the current context of the Brookline, Massachusetts rental market.

Brookline, Massachusetts

Average Apartment Rent

$3,513

Y-o-Y Change in Average
Apartment Rent

0.6%

As of May 2026

Compared to a year ago, Brookline, Massachusetts apartments have recorded a 0.6% rent increase.

Brookline, Massachusetts Average apartment rent trend

Median Rent Jul 2023 Nov 2023 Mar 2024 Jul 2024 Nov 2024 Mar 2025 Jul 2025 Nov 2025 Mar 2026
Brookline $3,311 $3,334 $3,468 $3,527 $3,428 $3,454 $3,506 $3,469 $3,470
National $1,741 $1,732 $1,736 $1,756 $1,749 $1,755 $1,767 $1,753 $1,750
Brookline
National
Jul 2023
$3,311
$1,741
Nov 2023
$3,334
$1,732
Mar 2024
$3,468
$1,736
Jul 2024
$3,527
$1,756
Nov 2024
$3,428
$1,749
Mar 2025
$3,454
$1,755
Jul 2025
$3,506
$1,767
Nov 2025
$3,469
$1,753
Mar 2026
$3,470
$1,750

Brookline, Massachusetts Average Apartment Rent

Brookline, Massachusetts Apartment rent ranges

Under $1,000
$1,001 - $1,500
$1,501 - $2,000
$2,001 - $2,500
$2,501 - $3,000
Over $3,000

At 78.76%, apartments priced Over $3,000 represent the bulk of Brookline, Massachusetts rentals, while condos priced $1,500 - $2,000 hold the lowest share of the market – 0.07%.

Brookline, Massachusetts Housing tenure**

Renter occupied housing units 14,439
Owner occupied housing units 12,480

Renters take up 54% of Brookline, Massachusetts real estate, occupying a total of 14,439 units, while homeowners live in 12,480 properties.

Median number of rooms of renter-occupied housing units**

3.8

Renter median household income**

$97,072

Average household size of renter-occupied housing units**

2.08

Rental vacancy rate**

1.3%

Brookline, Massachusetts Renter-occupied housing units by no. of bedrooms**

No bedrooms 1,398
1 bed 4,583
2 beds 4,977
3 beds 2,469
4 beds 886
5 or more beds 126

There are 4,977 rentals in Brookline, Massachusetts with 2 beds making up the highest share of the market, at 34%. Units with 5 or more beds, on the other hand, hold the lowest percentage (1%), amounting to 126 units. Overall, the median number of rooms in Brookline, Massachusetts homes for rent is 3.8.

Brookline, Massachusetts Renter-occupied units by age of householder**

15 - 24 years 2,564
25 - 34 years 4,772
35 - 44 years 2,523
45 - 54 years 1,202
55 - 59 years 537
60 - 64 years 561
65 - 74 years 1,015
75 - 84 years 740
85 years and over 525

Most condos for rent in Brookline, Massachusetts are occupied by residents in the 25 - 34 years age group (33%), followed by those in the 15 - 24 years age group (18%). At the same time, people in the 55 - 59 years age group make up the lowest share of the local rental market – 4%.

Brookline, Massachusetts Renter-occupied housing units by family type**

Family households 4,683
Non-Family Households 9,756

Brookline, Massachusetts Renter-occupied housing units by the presence of own children**

With related children of the householder under 18 2,307
No related children of the householder under 18 12,132

A total of 4,683 apartments for rent in Brookline, Massachusetts, or 32% of all rentals are family households. Additionally, 16% of rental homes include children under the age of 18 – that’s 2,307 units. All in all, the median size of a renter-occupied household in Brookline, Massachusetts is 2.08.

Brookline, Massachusetts Renter-occupied housing units by educational attainment**

Less than high school graduate 411
High school graduate (including equivalency) 832
Some college or associate's degree 1,308
Bachelor's degree or higher 11,888

In terms of education, renters holding bachelor degrees or higher make up 82% of the rental market. In contrast, residents with less than a high school degree reside in 3% of the homes for rent in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Brookline, Massachusetts Renter-occupied units by year structure built**

Built 2010 - 2019 346
Built 2000 - 2009 382
Built 1990 - 1999 497
Built 1980 - 1989 1,100
Built 1970 - 1979 1,992
Built 1960 - 1969 1,900
Built 1950 - 1959 1,193
Built 1940 - 1949 1,036
Built 1939 or earlier 5,993

The highest share of Brookline, Massachusetts apartment rentals, namely 42% or 5,993 units, were Built 1939 or earlier, followed by those Built 1970 - 1979 (14%, 1,992 units), and the ones Built 1960 - 1969 (13%, 1,900 units).

Brookline, Massachusetts Renter-occupied units by year householder moved in**

Moved in 2021 or later 2,048
Moved in 2018 to 2020 5,410
Moved in 2010 to 2017 5,046
Moved in 2000 to 2009 1,447
Moved in 1990 to 1999 200
Moved in 1989 or earlier 288

Median year renter moved into unit 2018

Most Brookline, Massachusetts renters (37%) moved in 2018 to 2020, while only 1% of them moved in 1990 to 1999. Overall, the median year renters have occupied their Brookline, Massachusetts condos for rent is 2018.

Brookline, Massachusetts Renter-occupied housing units by vehicles available**

No vehicle available 6,419
1 vehicle available 6,541
2 vehicles available 1,304
3 or more vehicles available 175

When it comes to transportation options, 45% of Brookline, Massachusetts renters have 1 vehicle available per household, 44% of them have No vehicle available, and 9% have 2 vehicles available.

Brookline, Massachusetts Means of transportation to work of householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Car, truck, or van - drove alone 3,649
Car, truck, or van - carpooled 577
Public transportation (excluding taxicab) 5,576
Walked 3,705
Taxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, or other means 1,377
Worked at home 4,230

Brookline, Massachusetts Geographical mobility in the past year for householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Same house as 1 year ago 18,932
Moved within same county 1,842
Moved from different county within same state 3,909
Moved from different state 3,131
Moved from abroad 1,715

The rental statistics on this page were compiled using data provided by our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution which offers comprehensive information on all Brookline, Massachusetts apartment buildings 50 units or larger. Yardi Matrix covers ~80% of the U.S. metro area population, including over 80,000 properties and 15.2 million apartments across 124 U.S. markets.

*Average single-family rent calculated from point2homes.com data.

**Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

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