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Boston Real Estate For Sale In MA
A staple of New England, Boston is well-revered for its narrow, cobblestone streets and vast history. Much of the charm of Boston real estate remains in its historic integrity, and despite the best efforts of generations of architects, Boston just can’t conform to today's ideals of what a modern city should look like. Even its skyscrapers don’t really seem to fit in, as Boston is a place for groundwork, building things up from the very roots, and exploring the heights of innovation while still preserving what once was. When it comes to homes for sale in Massachusetts, there are few as quaint and charming as those in Boston.
More About Boston MA
If you fly into Boston on a clear night and look down, you’ll see a spider web of streets outlining uneven polygons of city blocks and parks. Boston is a city without right angles, and there’s no such thing as a straight way to one place. Even the newer sections of the city are incapable of staying with a grid pattern for very long. For many Americans sick of the cookie-cutter waffle cities that dot the country, this can be either a breath of fresh air, a source of major frustration, or both.
It’s clear that Boston real estate is chalk full of history, but we don’t want to give the impression that Boston is stuck in the past. Boston is at the forefront of technological innovation, climate awareness, and entrepreneurship in the United States. New people flock in year after year to get a taste of the action. The thing is, Boston’s history stretches back four hundred years; it was the birthplace of the American Revolution, and that history is just a fundamental part of the city’s character.
Real Estate in Boston MA
Historically, Boston real estate market has been one of the hottest in the United States, and that isn’t changing anytime soon. Boston home values have seen an average annual appreciation rate of 5.16% over the past twenty years, which should be read as a sign of the strength and longevity of Boston’s real estate market.
About one-third of Boston residents own their homes, whereas the other two-thirds rent. If you are interested in investing in Boston rental properties, Boston could be an excellent place to begin. Most homes for sale in Boston are two bedrooms and, interestingly enough, nearly half of all homes in the city were built before the 1940s.
Real estate for sale in Boston MA can go for anything from $500,000 to well over $1,000,000. This is one of the most expensive cities in the United States, though still behind New York City and San Francisco. The median listing price for a single-family home for sale in Boston, MA is $825,000 and climbing.
Distance to Other Cities
- 70 miles to Providence, RI
- 107 miles to Portland, ME
- 216 miles to New York City
- 307 miles to Montreal, QC
Neighborhoods in Boston MA
Boston makes up for the cost of its homes by sporting some of the quaintest and most scenic New England neighborhoods you can imagine. The streets are active, the houses built several stories tall to make up for space, and trees are lining most sidewalks. Let’s take a look at some of Boston's best neighborhoods:
North End
Unlike most American cities, Boston’s old downtown isn’t a giant reef of corporate superstructures. However, it remains just as active as other metropolises. It’s still a colonial brick maze of townhomes. This neighborhood, North End, transports you back three centuries and has some of the important historical landmarks just down the street.
Back Bay
If you’re looking for more of that uptown Manhattan vibe, we suggest you look for homes for sale in Back Bay. Back Bay is home to long shaded streets lined on either side by tall, multistoried brick apartments. This area is close to Boston’s nightlife, as well as Fenway Park, so if you don’t mind a few flights of stairs and close neighbors, Back Bay could be your ideal location.
Cambridge
Cambridge is not technically a part of Boston. Located across the Charles River, Cambridge is home to both Harvard and MIT. Too big to be a college town; this is a college city. Come in the fall when the students are in town, and you’ll see lots of elbow patches and corduroy. Escape the bricks of Boston for the wood-sided houses and front porches that characterize Cambridge.
Allston
Hop back over the Charles river and consider living in this neighborhood. You’ll find more affordable housing here, with both young college grads and families making a living by commuting into Boston or over the river to Cambridge. Allston has a more working-class vibe, with some great restaurants located all up and down Beacon Street.
Brookline
Brookline is just south of Allston and far enough away from the city center to be considered the outskirts of Boston. There’s plenty of breathing space here, and you can find more traditional suburban layouts and plenty of houses with lawn spaces. This is a good place in Boston to raise kids while still within a twenty-minute drive of downtown.
Schools in Boston MA
We can’t think of another city in the U.S. that has a better reputation when it comes to education. Each Boston student has an average of $20,000 spent on their education annually. This is a city of educators, with major universities employing a massive amount of Bostonians. Obviously, higher education is a top priority in this city, and Boston recognizes that higher education doesn’t have as much value if primary education isn’t the best it can be.
Boston Public Schools manage the educations of tens of thousands of young students. The city has a very flexible education system with school choice, so parents have the option of public and private schools, charter and magnet programs, as well as homeschooling. Boston has some of the top-rated high schools in Massachusetts, the most famous among them being the Boston Latin School, which is nearly four hundred years old. Additionally, with the Boston Saves program, the city opens a savings account with $50 for every kindergartener, with the money meant to be used for college and trade school.
Here’s a quick look at some of the best schools in Boston, MA
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Commonwealth High School (9-12)
151 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02116 -
Eliot School (K-8)
16 Charter St, Boston, MA 02113 -
The Newman School (7-12)
247 Marlborough St, Boston, MA 02116 -
Winsor School (5-12)
103 Pilgrim Rd, Boston, MA 02215 -
Fenway High School (9-12)
67 Alleghany St, Boston, MA 02120
Boston is also a pioneer in higher education. This should come as no surprise, with Harvard and Massachusetts Institution of Technology (MIT) across the river in Cambridge, and the New England Conservatory located downtown. You can’t help but love to learn if you live in Boston.
FAQ About Boston, Massachusetts
What are the zip codes in Boston?
Here are just a few of the 52 zip codes that make up Boston, MA:
What county is Boston in?
Boston is situated in Suffolk County.
What is the median household income in Boston, MA?
The median income per household in Boston is $76,200.
How far is New York City from Boston?
New York City is a 3 hour and 45 minute (200 mile) drive from Boston.
Things to Do in Boston
The locals in Boston enjoy spending their days heading to local parks, spending time in charming coffee shops and eateries, and soaking in the beauty of their city. Here are some of the ways you can make the most out of living in Boston:
- Follow the Freedom Trail- This might seem overly touristy, but the Liberty Trail is a great way to get to Boston’s downtown. A self-guided tour follows the red painted lines that snake from Boston Commons, through North End, over to Charlestown, and up to the site of Bunker Hill where American Revolutionaries faced up against the British Army.
- Go to Monte’s Restaurant in Lynn, Massachusetts- We’re sending you up to Lynn, a suburb about 30 minutes away from downtown Boston. We’re doing this because we didn’t think Monte’s has the best pizza. Period. This restaurant is cheap and unassuming and serves the best thin crust pizza in New England. This is coming from first-hand experience. Make a trip up to Lynn; you will not regret it.
- Go to a Red Sox game- Fenway Park is one of the most beautiful and charming ballparks in all of America. This is a great excuse to head into Boston’s center to see the city’s most beloved sports team (yes, even more than the Patriots) play teams from all over the country. Fenway also puts on the odd concert from time to time, so keep an eye on their schedule and see what’s coming through!
- Head to Wompatuck State Park- Wompatuck is one of those locals-only hidden gems near Boston. About a forty minute drive south of the city, this state park has thousands of acres of beautiful New England woodland to explore. Run, bike, or walk along paved and unpaved paths and take a break from the streets and tall buildings.
- Check out the Museum of Fine Arts- Just south of Fenway Park, this museum will keep you coming back year after year. The MFA houses exhibits of everything ranging from Monet, to Ancient Egyptian sculpture, to Indigenous American artwork from cultures all over the New World.
- Watch the Head of the Charles Regatta- This is the largest 2-day regatta in the world. This boat race features thousands of rowers speeding downstream along three miles of the Charles River. People from all over the U.S. and the world come to compete in this event, and it’s held every year late in October.
- Go to a Patriot’s game- As polarizing as the Patriots are, we feel compelled to include them in this list. The Patriots put on quite a show with each game in Foxborough, a suburb of Boston. This team draws fans from afar afield as Maine and New Hampshire, and roughly half the country if they wind up doing well during the regular season. We promise you an exciting time should you make the twenty-minute drive out to their stadium for a game.
- Go see the Boston Symphony Orchestra- The BSO is among the Big Five Orchestras of the United States. They play everything from Beethoven to Brahms to Bartok, and with a yearly subscription, you can attend some of the best live concert music to be found in the country.
- Run in the Boston Marathon- If you’re a long-distance runner, this will be one of the proudest achievements of your life. It can be a bit of a hassle to enter into this race as you have to prove a qualifying time, but it’s well worth the extra effort to get in.
- Go to Walden Pond- Famous as the site of Henry David Thoreau’s experiment with self-reliance and isolation from New England town life, Walden Pond is a joy that many Bostonians aren’t aware of. Located a good distance from the city near Concord, this lake is a perfect place to escape for long quiet walks through the woods and kayaking over clear water. Even if you’re not a fan of Thoreau you can find plenty of love for this park.
Living in Boston MA
The Economy in Boston, Massachusetts
While it has gone through rises and falls in its extensive history, Boston has one of the strongest city economies in the world. Known for its entrepreneurial spirit, the city plays host to thousands of start ups and serves as a headquarters for major companies like Reebok, New Balance, and General Electric. The main employers in Boston are the many schools that call the city home, and the city’s hospitals, transportation sectors, and financial sectors.
The Weather in Boston, Massachusetts
Being so far north, expect long summer days and long winter nights. In late winter, it will start getting dark by 4:00 P.M. You can expect several snowfalls throughout December-February. The summers are hot and sunny, and the air is clean nearly every day of the year.
Medical Access in Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is ranked as a city with some of the best hospitals in the United States and the second best city in the world for health care. Medical access in Boston is one of the top benefits of planting roots here. Some exceptional medical facilities in Boston include Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Whether you are in need of labor and delivery services, cancer care, or just like the peace of having convenient medical care nearby, Boston can provide the service you need.
Boston MA Transportation
There’s no getting around it; Boston has some awful traffic. Most of the city was designed and built up in the days before automobiles, and it shows. The streets are narrow and winding, and people drive fast through them. It is possible to get around the city in a car, but it’s no easy feat. To make up for it, Boston is incredibly walkable, and many locals choose to ride bikes when running errands or heading to meet up with friends. Boston also has a public transit system, including bus routes, a subway, and its light monorail affectionately called “The T.”
Connected to the rest of the United States by I-95, you can take this interstate north to Maine or south to New York City, and take flights out of Boston Logan International Airport.