As close as Brookline is to Boston, it manages to maintain its own unique identity. Brookline features a mixture of urban and suburban living, upscale shops and recreational parks, apartment buildings and large estates. In addition to offering both a city atmosphere and a feeling of being in the country, the town features a diverse population. It is the home to many academic and medical professionals who work at the town’s world-renowned medical centers and those in Boston, as well as students pursuing higher education at nearby colleges such as Boston University, Northeastern University, Boston College, and many more.