Latinos in Massachusetts Selected Areas: Brookline

Authors

Phillip Granberry, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow
Victor Luis Martins, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow
Michelle Borges, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow

Document Type

Research Report

Publication Date

7-2023

Abstract

Brookline is a town of 63,191 residents, of whom 4,272, or 6.8%, identify as Latino or Hispanic, according to the 2020 Decennial Census. Statewide, Latino residents constitute 12.6% of the total population. In Brookline, the largest population is White (65.3%), followed by Asians (19.1%). Blacks account for 3.1% of the town’s residents.

Between the 2010 and 2020 Decennial Censuses, Brookline experienced 7.6% population growth, slightly higher than the state's 7.4% growth. During this time, the White population of Brookline declined by 4.2% while the Latino population increased by more than 44.1% (higher than their statewide rate of 41.4%), the Asian population by 32.0%, and the Black population by 7.3%.

The remainder of this profile uses 2017–2021 American Community Survey data in order to analyze the demographic and economic characteristics presented in this profile.

Similar to other cities and towns in the metro Boston region, Brookline has long been a destination for international migrants. Today, the town has a far greater share of foreign-born (30.9%) than the Commonwealth as a whole (17.3%). This is especially the case among Latinos. In Brookline, 41.8% of the Latino population is foreign-born, greater than the 32.1% Latino statewide share. (Note that Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens at birth, do not count among foreign-born Latinos.)

The Latino population in Brookline is a mix of Latinos of different origins. Mexicans are the largest single group in Brookline, and Puerto Ricans are the second largest, followed by Colombians, Venezuelans, and Dominicans. Statewide, the five largest Latino populations in Massachusetts in order of size are Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Mexicans.

Community Engaged/Serving

Part of the UMass Boston Community-Engaged Teaching, Research, and Service Series. //scholarworks.umb.edu/engage

Recommended Citation

Granberry, Phillip; Martins, Victor Luis; and Borges, Michelle, "Latinos in Massachusetts Selected Areas: Brookline" (2023). Gastón Institute Publications. 296.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/gaston_pubs/296