Living in Boston
Boston is the capital and largest city of Massachusetts. It was founded on the Shawmut Peninsula in 1630, and today the city is made up of 23 official neighborhoods, each with its own main streets, housing and history. Luis works across the city, and this page gives a quick tour of the central neighborhoods. He also has separate guides for Charlestown, South Boston and Dorchester, and he works in East Boston, home of Logan International Airport, close to his office in Chelsea.
Downtown takes in Downtown Crossing, the Financial District and Government Center. Beacon Hill, home of the Massachusetts State House, sits beside Boston Common, which dates to 1634 and is considered the nation’s first public park. Back Bay was built on filled tidal land starting in 1857, and its rows of three- to five-story brownstones, the tree-lined Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Newbury Street and Copley Square make it one of the best preserved 19th-century urban districts in the country. The North End is known for its many restaurants, and the Freedom Trail runs through it past the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church.
Homes you will find
- Three- to five-story brownstones and brick row houses in Back Bay, many now divided into condos
- Condos in converted historic buildings, such as the Charlestown Navy Yard
- Newer condo buildings with amenities in the Seaport and South Boston
- Triple-deckers, two- and three-family homes and Victorians in neighborhoods such as Dorchester
Getting around
Boston is the hub of the MBTA. The Red, Orange, Green and Blue lines meet at downtown transfer stations: Park Street, Downtown Crossing, State and Government Center. Back Bay station serves the Orange Line, commuter rail and Amtrak, and the Green Line stops at Arlington, Copley, Hynes Convention Center and Prudential. The Silver Line connects South Station with the Seaport and Logan Airport.
Parks and everyday life
The 2.5-mile Freedom Trail starts at Boston Common and links 16 historic sites, including the State House, Faneuil Hall and the Old North Church, before ending at the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. The Charles River Esplanade runs along the edge of Back Bay, and Copley Square is home to the Boston Public Library and Trinity Church. The city runs its own public school system, and families can contact Boston Public Schools directly for school details.
Who Boston suits
Boston fits buyers who want to walk to work, dining and transit, condo buyers who like historic buildings or full-service towers, and investors looking at multi-families in the outer neighborhoods. With 23 neighborhoods to choose from, most buyers can find a part of the city that matches their style and budget.
Not sure which Boston neighborhood is right for you? Ask Luis about recent sales across the city, in English or Spanish.
