Mental Health in Brookline and Greater Boston: Statistics
In short: In 2023, an estimated 32.3% of adults in Brookline felt lonely at least sometimes, 20.4% lacked the social and emotional support they need and 21.8% had ever been told they have depression, compared with 39.3%, 25.1% and 24.0% in Boston, according to CDC PLACES model-based estimates.
Key public statistics on mental health and access to care in Brookline and nearby cities, in one place. Each figure names its source and the period it covers. Figures from our two studies link to them for the method and the full tables.
Key numbers
32.3%
of Brookline adults feel lonely always, usually or sometimes (Boston 39.3%, Massachusetts 34.6%).
Source: CDC PLACES, 2025 release (BRFSS 2023)
21.8%
of Brookline adults have ever been told they have depression (Massachusetts 24.3%).
Source: CDC PLACES, 2025 release (BRFSS 2023)
13.6%
of Brookline adults report frequent mental distress (Boston 18.0%).
Source: CDC PLACES, 2025 release (BRFSS 2023)
2.4%
of Norfolk County residents under 65 had no health insurance in 2024 (Massachusetts 3.3%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE), 2024
189,135
college students were enrolled within 5 miles of Brookline in fall 2024.
Source: NCES IPEDS, fall 2024 (provisional)
47.8
psychologists per 10,000 Brookline residents, against 10.1 statewide.
Source: CMS NPPES, file dated November 2, 2026; Census Bureau population estimates, 2025
Loneliness, support and mental health among adults
- 32.3% of Brookline adults feel lonely always, usually or sometimes (Boston 39.3%, Cambridge 37.0%; Massachusetts 34.6%).
- 20.4% of Brookline adults sometimes, rarely or never get the social and emotional support they need (Boston 25.1%, Cambridge 21.9%; Massachusetts 23.7%).
- 21.8% of Brookline adults have ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that they have a depressive disorder (Boston 24.0%, Cambridge 24.5%; Massachusetts 24.3%).
- 13.6% of Brookline adults report frequent mental distress, meaning their mental health was not good on 14 or more of the past 30 days (Boston 18.0%, Cambridge 16.0%; Massachusetts 16.7%).
- Brookline is below both Boston and the Massachusetts figure on all four measures.
| Place | Feel lonely | Lack social and emotional support | Ever told they have depression | Frequent mental distress | No health insurance (ages 18 to 64) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookline | 32.3% | 20.4% | 21.8% | 13.6% | 3.0% |
| Boston | 39.3% | 25.1% | 24.0% | 18.0% | 6.3% |
| Cambridge | 37.0% | 21.9% | 24.5% | 16.0% | 3.8% |
| Newton | 32.4% | 19.2% | 22.7% | 13.1% | 2.6% |
| Somerville | 37.0% | 21.7% | 26.6% | 17.0% | 4.4% |
| Massachusetts | 34.6% | 23.7% | 24.3% | 16.7% |
Share of adults, 2023; health insurance column: adults aged 18 to 64. Source: CDC PLACES, 2025 release (BRFSS 2023); the Massachusetts figure is our calculation from CDC PLACES census tract estimates. More detail, including all 22 Inner Core cities and towns, in our Greater Boston loneliness study.
Health insurance
- 2.4% of Norfolk County residents under 65 had no health insurance in 2024, the lowest of the three counties around Brookline (Middlesex 2.9%, Suffolk 3.7%; Massachusetts 3.3%).
- Among adults aged 18 to 64, the CDC estimates that 3.0% had no health insurance in Brookline in 2023, against 6.3% in Boston, 3.8% in Cambridge, 2.6% in Newton and 4.4% in Somerville.
| Area | Under 65 | Ages 18 to 64 |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk County | 2.4% (±0.2) | 2.7% (±0.3) |
| Middlesex County | 2.9% (±0.2) | 3.3% (±0.3) |
| Suffolk County | 3.7% (±0.3) | 4.0% (±0.4) |
| Massachusetts | 3.3% (±0.2) | 3.7% (±0.2) |
Share of residents with no health insurance of any kind, 2024, with the Census Bureau's 90% margin of error in points. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE), 2024. The town figures above come from a different model and year, CDC PLACES, 2025 release (BRFSS 2023), so the two sets should not be compared directly.
College students
- 294,974 students were enrolled at 55 degree-granting colleges and universities in Suffolk, Middlesex and Norfolk counties in fall 2024, 61.2% of all students at degree-granting colleges in Massachusetts. 113,963 of them were graduate students.
- 189,135 were enrolled at the 30 colleges and universities within 5 miles of Brookline, and 47.6% of them were graduate students.
Source: NCES IPEDS, fall 2024 (provisional); distances are our calculation. Method and the full list of colleges: Greater Boston college students study.
Psychologists
- 303 psychologists list a main practice address in Brookline in the federal NPI registry, 47.8 per 10,000 residents, against 10.1 across Massachusetts (7,238 psychologists).
- Cambridge has 42.3 and Boston 21.8 psychologists per 10,000 residents; Suffolk, Middlesex and Norfolk counties together have 4,774, or 14.9 per 10,000.
- The registry shows where psychologists are based, including hospitals and universities. It does not show who sees clients or is taking new ones.
Source: CMS NPPES, file dated November 2, 2026; Census Bureau population estimates, 2025. Method: Greater Boston college students study.
College students nationally
- 45.4% of students screened positive for loneliness on a short three-question scale in the American College Health Association's spring 2026 survey of 57,211 students at 86 U.S. colleges.
- 18.9% of the same students reported serious psychological distress (a Kessler 6 score of 13 or more out of 24).
- These are national figures from colleges that chose to take part. They are not rates for Boston-area students, and we found no comparable published figures for Boston-area colleges.
Source: American College Health Association, National College Health Assessment III, Spring 2026 Reference Group Executive Summary.
What this means for people looking for support in Brookline
- Lower than Boston is not the same as rare. By the CDC's estimates, about one in three Brookline adults feel lonely at least sometimes and about one in five lack the support they need. If that sounds like you, you have a lot of company.
- Ask about coverage early. Most people here have health insurance, so when you contact a therapist it is worth asking which plans they accept and what a session costs before you start.
- These figures describe communities, not you. They are estimates for whole populations and do not say what any one person needs. Dr. Rabin sees adults and college students in Brookline and by telehealth anywhere in Massachusetts, and the first consultation is free.
About these statistics
- Model-based estimates. CDC PLACES and SAHIE figures come from statistical models that combine surveys with population data, not from counting every resident. Each has a margin of error; small differences between places do not mean much.
- Different years. The adult health figures are for 2023, health insurance by county for 2024, college enrollment for fall 2024 and the psychologist counts for November 2026. Each is the latest available.
- Our calculations are labeled. The Massachusetts PLACES figures, the distances from the Census Bureau's center point for Brookline and the psychologist rates are ours; the studies explain how we made them.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, Place Data, 2025 release (BRFSS 2023): data.cdc.gov/d/eav7-hnsx
- U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates, 2024: census.gov/sahie
- National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment (provisional): nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, NPPES downloadable file, November 2026: download.cms.gov/nppes; U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, 2025
- American College Health Association, National College Health Assessment III, Spring 2026 Reference Group: Executive Summary
- Our studies: Loneliness in Greater Boston and How Many College Students Study in Greater Boston?
Cite these statistics
Rabin, Rebecca, PsyD. "Mental Health in Brookline and Greater Boston: Statistics." Published November 12, 2026. https://www.rebeccarabinpsyd.com/research/brookline-boston-mental-health-statistics.
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This page reports public, population-level data. It is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
Looking for a therapist in Brookline?
Dr. Rebecca Rabin, PsyD sees adults and college students for individual therapy, in person in Brookline and online anywhere in Massachusetts. A free 15-minute phone consultation is a low-pressure place to start. Read about therapy for depression and mood in Brookline.