Brookline is home to several neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and history. Within them, you will also find a wide range of housing options, such as high-rise condominiums, multi-family houses, townhouses, and single-family homes. Learn more about each neighborhood in Brookline below and find the perfect one for your next home! Make sure to also explore the current homes for sale in Brookline and contact Ingvild for more information.
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Brookline Village
Brookline Village is the major commercial center of the town of Brookline, Massachusetts. The neighborhood even includes the Brookline Village Commercial District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the town's civic buildings are located in this village, including the popular public library. The neighborhood is located north of Route 9, providing easy access to the city and surrounding areas. The Muddy River also borders Brooklyn Village, which was once the neighborhood's original name.
Coolidge Corner
Coolidge Corner is located at the intersection of Beacon and Harvard Street, which is where the Coolidge & Brother General Store once was located and how the neighborhood received its name. Located adjacent to Brookline Village, this neighborhood is known for its eclectic mix of shops and restaurants. It is also home to the Coolidge Corner Theatre, an independent movie theater that shows independent and foreign films. Once a streetcar suburb, this neighborhood has remained pedestrian-friendly and has many options, all within walking distance. The neighborhood is home to many popular coffee shops, pharmacies, small independent boutiques, restaurants, Trader Joe’s grocery store, and the popular Brookline Booksmith independent bookstore.
Washington Square
Washington Square is located along Beacon Street, west of Coolidge Corner and east of Cleveland Circle and Chestnut Hill Reservoir. This smaller neighborhood is home to several restaurants, shops, and cafes, many of which are within walking distance along Beacon Street. Washington Square Park has many beautiful brownstone buildings and an 18-foot Victorian clock in the middle of the neighborhood. One of Brookline’s eight public elementary schools, the Michael Driscoll School, is also located nearby.
Chestnut Hill
This affluent neighborhood, which also extends into Newton and Boston, is located in the western part of Brookline and is known for its grand homes, top-notch schools, and excellent shopping. It is also home to Boston College. Chestnut Hill gets its name from the multiple small hills that overlook the Chestnut Reservoir. The neighborhood is well known for its shopping centers: The Street, The Shops at Chestnut Hill, and Chestnut Hill Square, and it is even a part of the Boston Marathon route. Learn more about Chestnut Hill! (link to Discover Chestnut Hill page)
Pill Hill
This neighborhood, also known as “High Street Hill,” is located south of Central Village and along Boylston Street. Pill Hill became the nickname for the neighborhood due to the high population of doctors in the area, likely because of how close it is to the Longwood Medical Center. The Pill Hill Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of seven total within Brookline. Within Pill Hill, you can explore the winding tree-lined roads of this neighborhood and see the many styles of architecture, such as Victorian, Colonial, and English Cottage.
Cottage Farm
Centered around the intersection of Essex and Ivy Street, the Cottage Farm Historic District is well known for its beautiful homes, many on larger lots. This district is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places (one of seven in Brookline). Many of the homes in this neighborhood are designed similarly to English cottages and the quiet streets give you more of a rural feel, yet with the benefits of still being close to a major city. Cottage Farm is also home to the Amory Woods and Hall’s Pond Sanctuaries, which help add to the rural feel.
Fisher Hill
Fisher Hill is a historic neighborhood located in Brookline, Massachusetts, just southwest of Boston. It is known for its large, elegant homes and stunning views of the city skyline. The history of Fisher Hill dates back to the late 1800s when the area was first developed as a residential neighborhood for Boston's wealthy elite. Many of the homes in Fisher Hill were designed by some of the most renowned architects of the day, including Peabody and Stearns, who designed the iconic Fisher Hill Reservoir. In the early 20th century, Fisher Hill continued to be a popular destination for Boston's wealthy families, and many of the homes in the neighborhood were updated and modernized to reflect the latest trends in architecture and design. Today, Fisher Hill remains one of the most desirable and exclusive neighborhoods in the Boston area. Currently, the luxury Balfour Senior Living facility is under construction on the former site of Newbury College (closed in 2019) on top of Fisher Hill.
Putterham
This neighborhood is located in the southwestern part of Brookline and is the home of the public Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course. It is also home to several parks and natural areas as well as Baker School, which is one of Brookline’s public elementary schools. The neighborhood is very residential with multiple single-family homes. The Shops at Putterham, which is home to local favorites Mandarin Gourmet and Putterham Grille, is centered in the middle of these residential streets providing easy access to its amenities.
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