How long is the commute from Brookline, MA?

Name: Commute and cars in Brookline, MA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Workers who live in Brookline, MA take an average of 27.1 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

28.4% of workers drive alone to work.

18.1% take public transportation.

14.9% of workers walk to work.

30.1% work from home.

26.9% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 27.1 minutes (±0.7)
Public transportation: 18.1%
Work from home: 30.1%
Households without a car: 26.9%

How people in Brookline get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	Brookline	Norfolk County	Massachusetts	United States
Drove alone	28.4% (±1.8 points)	57.4%	61.2%	68.8%
Carpooled	3.2% (±0.8 points)	6.0%	7.0%	8.5%
Public transportation	18.1% (±1.7 points)	8.7%	6.5%	3.2%
Walked	14.9% (±1.6 points)	3.1%	4.1%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	5.3% (±0.9 points)	2.0%	2.6%	2.0%
Worked from home	30.1% (±2.3 points)	22.8%	18.6%	15.1%

In Brookline, the average commute is lower than in Norfolk County (32.5 minutes).

It is also lower than in Massachusetts (29.1 minutes).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In Brookline, the share commuting by public transportation is higher than in Norfolk County (8.7%).

It is also higher than in Massachusetts (6.5%).

It is higher than the national figure (3.2%).

In Norfolk County, Brookline ranks 28 of 28 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 256 of 351.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Cars per household in Brookline

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	Brookline	Norfolk County	Massachusetts	United States
No vehicle	26.9% (±2.2 points)	9.2%	11.7%	8.4%
1 vehicle	47.4% (±2.5 points)	35.3%	36.1%	33.1%
2 vehicles	20.7% (±1.8 points)	38.9%	35.7%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	5.0% (±1.1 points)	16.7%	16.5%	21.9%

In Brookline, the share of households without a vehicle is higher than in Norfolk County (9.2%).

It is also higher than in Massachusetts (11.7%).

It is higher than the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in Brookline

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Brookline	Norfolk County	Massachusetts	United States
Workers working from home	30.1% (±2.3 points)	22.8% (±0.5 points)	18.6% (±0.2 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	97.3% (±0.9 points)	96.8% (±0.3 points)	95.7% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	96.1% (±0.9 points)	94.8% (±0.3 points)	92.8% (±0.1 points)	91.0%

In Brookline, the share of households with a broadband subscription is higher than in Norfolk County (94.8%).

It is also higher than in Massachusetts (92.8%).

It is higher than the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near Brookline

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Brookline
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
Brookline	—	27.1 minutes (±0.7)	—
Newton	3.4 mi	26.6 minutes (±0.9)	Not measurably different
Watertown	3.6 mi	27.6 minutes (±1.2)	Not measurably different
Cambridge	3.8 mi	25.8 minutes (±0.7)	Lower
Somerville	5.1 mi	31.0 minutes (±0.8)	Higher
Belmont (community)	5.3 mi	29.3 minutes (±0.9)	Higher
Belmont	5.3 mi	29.3 minutes (±0.9)	Higher
Dedham (community)	5.7 mi	29.3 minutes (±1.3)	Higher
Dedham	5.7 mi	29.3 minutes (±1.3)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Cambridge, MA (25.8 minutes).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Somerville, MA (31.0 minutes), Belmont (community), MA (29.3 minutes), Belmont, MA (29.3 minutes).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Average commute across Norfolk County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
22	Dedham	29.3 minutes (±1.3)
23 (tie)	Foxborough	29.0 minutes (±2.0)
23 (tie)	Plainville	29.0 minutes (±3.0)
25	Needham	27.7 minutes (±1.5)
26	Avon	27.6 minutes (±3.4)
27	Wellesley	27.2 minutes (±1.4)
28	Brookline	27.1 minutes (±0.7)

Showing 7 of 28 places in Norfolk County, ranked from highest to lowest.

The figures for Brookline include the places inside it that have pages of their own: Brookline (community).

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Brookline

How long is the average commute in Brookline?

Workers who live in Brookline, MA take an average of 27.1 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in Brookline without a car?

26.9% of households in Brookline have no vehicle, and 18.1% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in Brookline?

30.1% (±2.3 points) of workers who live in Brookline worked from home, and 96.1% of households have a broadband subscription.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Brookline town, Norfolk County, Massachusetts (county subdivision:09175, in state:25 county:021).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.