Living in Charlestown
Charlestown is a neighborhood of the City of Boston, set on a peninsula between the Charles River, the Mystic River and Boston Harbor, directly across the water from downtown. It is the oldest settlement in today’s Boston: it was laid out in 1629, served as the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and was its own town until Boston annexed it in 1874.
History is everywhere here. Much of the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 was fought on Breed’s Hill, where the granite Bunker Hill Monument now stands. The Charlestown Navy Yard, established in 1800, is part of Boston National Historical Park and is home to the USS Constitution. The Freedom Trail ends in Charlestown, and the Boston Harborwalk follows the waterfront.
Homes you will find
- Colonial-era and 19th-century red-brick row houses on the streets around the Monument, often compared to Beacon Hill
- Condos in converted historic naval buildings, warehouses and lofts in the Navy Yard
- Newer waterfront condo buildings, many with harbor and skyline views
Getting around
The MBTA Orange Line stops at Community College station, near the center of the neighborhood, and at Sullivan Square on the old Charlestown Neck. Bus 93 runs from Sullivan Square to Haymarket by way of Bunker Hill Street, and bus 92 runs from Assembly Square through Sullivan Square and Main Street to Haymarket. A ferry from the Charlestown Navy Yard crosses the harbor to Long Wharf, near the New England Aquarium. Drivers have I-93 at Sullivan Square.
Parks and everyday life
Daily life centers on Main Street and City Square, with shops and restaurants close by. Paul Revere Park, City Square and the small Thompson Square park offer green space, and the Training Field holds the Charlestown Civil War Memorial. Walks along the Harborwalk and through the Navy Yard come with views of the Boston skyline. Bunker Hill Community College has its main campus in the neighborhood. Charlestown is served by Boston Public Schools, and families can contact the district directly for school details.
Who Charlestown suits
Charlestown suits buyers who want a historic, walkable setting with quick access to downtown by subway, bus or boat. It works well for condo buyers who like waterfront views or converted historic buildings, and for anyone who wants a row house on a quiet brick street close to the city.
Interested in Charlestown? Ask Luis about recent sales and current listings, in English or Spanish.
