Brookline, MA Crime Map

Brookline, MA Safety Overview: What the Data Shows

With a population of 59,223 and an overall crime grade of C+, Brookline, MA presents a more nuanced safety picture than its reputation alone might suggest. Dig into the neighborhood-level data, however, and the story improves considerably: every one of the four analyzed neighborhoods earned either an A or a B grade, meaning 100% of Brookline's measured areas qualify as safe by national standards. That kind of consistency is rare, and it reflects the town's relatively high median household income of $113,642 and low unemployment rate of 3.1%.

Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Safety Breakdown

Brookline Hills stands out as the town's safest neighborhood, earning a Grade A with a median household income of $163,088 and a population of 8,567. Washington Square and Brookline Village both hold a Grade B+, with median incomes of $123,621 and $117,534 respectively — comfortable, well-resourced communities where safety and economic stability reinforce each other. Coolidge Corner, the most populous neighborhood at 25,113 residents and a median income of $102,340, earns a Grade B. While it ranks comparatively lower within Brookline's own hierarchy, a B grade still signals a safe environment by any broader measure. Notably, the data contains no neighborhoods graded C, D, or F — an outcome that sets Brookline apart from most Massachusetts communities its size.

Grade Distribution Across Brookline

The grade distribution across Brookline's four analyzed neighborhoods is strikingly top-heavy in the best possible way. Twenty-five percent of neighborhoods earned an A, while the remaining 75% landed at B or B+. Not a single neighborhood fell below a B. This uniform performance suggests that safety in Brookline is less a matter of choosing the right block and more a reflection of town-wide conditions — dense but orderly, at 3,382 residents per square mile, with institutional resources and community investment that tend to suppress crime across the board.

Property Crime vs. Violent Crime in Brookline

Like most affluent, densely populated suburbs bordering a major city, Brookline's crime profile skews heavily toward property offenses rather than violent incidents. Opportunistic theft, vehicle break-ins, and occasional burglaries are the more common concerns, particularly in higher-traffic areas like Coolidge Corner, where commercial activity and foot traffic create more exposure. Violent crime rates remain low relative to the region, consistent with the town's low poverty rate of 10.8% and stable employment base. Residents should remain alert to property crime risks — especially in mixed-use corridors — while recognizing that serious violent incidents are statistically uncommon here.

How the Interactive Crime Map Supports Better Decisions

For the range of people navigating decisions in Brookline, the interactive crime map on this page offers practical, specific value. Home buyers weighing a $1,009,780 median home value against neighborhood safety grades can cross-reference Brookline Hills' A rating with its price point before committing. Renters facing a median rent of $2,305 can evaluate whether Coolidge Corner's B grade aligns with their priorities versus the quieter profile of Washington Square. Daily commuters passing through Brookline Village can identify time-of-day incident patterns along their routes. The map translates raw incident data into something actionable — not a reason for alarm, but a tool for making choices with clear eyes. In a town where every neighborhood earns at least a B, the differences are matters of degree, and the map helps residents understand exactly where they stand.