Hello from Boston, Massachusetts! I’m Amelia, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Boston, and I’m here to give you the inside scoop on this unique city.
Boston is a city where the past and the future exist side by side. Historic buildings from America’s birth sit in the shadows of massive skyscrapers where the innovations of tomorrow are being conceived.
Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Boston
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $2,737 | $1,000 | $10,000+ |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $3,142 | $800 | $10,000+ |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $3,723 | $1,200 | $10,000+ |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $4,104 | $900 | $10,000+ |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $4,840 | $1,000 | $10,000+ |
| 5 Bedroom Apartments | $5,856 | $999 | $10,000+ |
| 6 Bedroom Apartments | $7,622 | $1,300 | $10,000+ |
I’m excited to show you around this fantastic city filled with welcoming people, many of whom have come here to live from all over the globe.
Popular Boston Neighborhoods
Boston is made up of an eclectic collection of neighborhoods, each with their own unique personalities. Some neighborhoods have rustic or historic charm while others are new construction and the latest in shopping and dining.
Here’s a sampling of some of the most popular neighborhoods with apartments in Boston:
Back Bay and Beacon Hill offer a blend of historic brownstones, upscale boutiques, and leafy strolls along the Charles River Esplanade. The area mixes old Boston charm with a newer, more polished feel, from the historic cobblestone streets and gas lamps on Beacon Hill to the grand boulevards and designer shops of Back Bay, with the Boston Common and Public Garden right at its edge.
The North End includes Boston’s “Little Italy” and is filled with stunning Italian cafes and restaurants, the best bakeries in Boston on Hanover Street. The area has a historic feel (the Freedom Trail winds through here, with a couple stops — Paul Revere’s House and the Old North Church (famous for the whole “one if by land, two if be sea” thing).
The South End is known for its Victorian row houses, a thriving arts scene, and some of the best restaurants in the city. The neighborhood is warm and welcoming, filled with galleries and jazz clubs. Fenway and Kenmore are busy, hopping neighborhoods with a great nightlife scene. Fenway Park sits at the heart of these neighborhoods, which are filled with sports bars and music venues — as well as the Museum of Fine Arts.
The Seaport is Boston’s newest neighborhood — modern with glass towers, hot restaurants, and busy nightlife. While some locals joke it feels more like Miami than Boston, the harbor views and cocktail bars make it worth exploring.
A (Very) Brief History of Boston
In Boston, we take deep pride in our city’s history and the role we played in the founding of the United States.
But before that, this area was home to the Massachusett tribe, who fished, farmed, and traded across the region. Their presence shaped the land that would later become Boston, and towns and landmarks across the area still bear their names. Squantum, part of Quincy just south of the city, is named for Tisquantum (better known as Squanto), a Patuxet man who acted as an interpreter between Indigenous peoples and early English settlers. Massachusetts itself, along with Natick, Wampatuck, and Neponset, all trace back to Native words and leaders — reminders that Boston’s story began long before the Puritans set foot here.
The 1600s brought the Mayflower to the (extremely overrated) Plymouth Rock (seriously, don’t go, it’s just a boring rock). A quick drive through Boston and neighboring towns will take you past preserved homes from that era, like the birthplace of John Adams and John Quincy Adams, just sitting on an unassuming street corner in Braintree.
Want the best historical bang for your metaphorical buck? That’s the Freedom Trail. Yes, it’s touristy, but there’s a reason. You’ll follow a red brick path through 2.5 miles of cobblestone streets connecting 16 historic sites, from Boston Common to Bunker Hill. Along the way, you’ll pass meeting houses where revolutionaries debated, graveyards where patriots like John Hancock are buried, and taverns where plans were whispered over ale.
Boston’s story didn’t stop with the Revolution. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, waves of immigrants reshaped the city. The Irish, fleeing famine, left an indelible mark on Boston’s politics and culture (the St. Patrick’s Day parade is one of the biggest in the country). Italians built the North End into “Little Italy,” and more recently, Latin and Asian communities have infused the city with new traditions, energy, and food.
At the same time, Boston began building the institutions that still define it today. Harvard, founded in 1636, is the nation’s oldest university, while MIT, established in 1861, is a global powerhouse of innovation. Boston University (my alma mater!) and Northeastern expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Healthcare is another cornerstone of Boston’s identity. Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the third-oldest general hospital in the U.S. and a leader in research and patient care. Boston Children’s Hospital (1869) and Beth Israel Deaconess also grew into world-class institutions, helping turn Boston into a global hub for medicine and biotech.
And of course — sports. Fenway Park (go Sox!) opened in 1912 and remains the oldest Major League Baseball park still in use. Built on what was once a swamp (“the Fens”), it’s survived fires, near-demolition, and countless renditions of “Sweet Caroline.”
In Boston, history isn’t confined to museums; it’s part of the city’s rhythm, shaping the culture, communities, and character you’ll experience around every corner.
Getting Around Boston
Boston is, shall we say, “quirky” to get around in. The winding streets and five- or six-way intersections can throw you for a loop (as can the drivers’ incessant need to honk their horns). But for all its quirks, Boston is actually pretty easy to navigate — if you know what you’re getting into.
Let’s start with the T, America’s first subway system. The color-coded lines (Red, Green, Blue, Orange, and the Silver “Bus” Line) connect most of the city. Locals love to gripe about delays — the Red Line in particular is notorious (I live in Quincy, and let me tell you, it has tested my patience more than once). But the truth is, the T will get you where you need to go. It’s affordable, it’s reliable enough, and it’s part of what makes Boston feel connected. My son even has his own Charlie Card, which gets him everywhere from the bus to the subway, and it’s easy for him and his friends to hop into the city whenever they want.
Boston is also a walking city, compact enough that you can cross large stretches in under an hour. The catch? The streets are a maze. Most of them follow old cow paths (yes, really), which means you’ll swear you’re walking straight and somehow end up right back where you started. Insider tip: Don’t be ashamed to use GPS — everyone does.
Biking has gotten easier thanks to a growing network of bike lanes and the Bluebikes system, but traffic is still… bold. Which brings us to driving in Boston. If you can avoid it, do. Between one-way streets, nonexistent parking, and drivers who treat blinkers as optional, Boston traffic has a reputation that’s well-earned.
For longer trips, ferries run across the harbor to Charlestown and the Boston Harbor Islands, while the commuter rail makes day trips to Salem (one of our favorite spots to escape to), Concord, or the beaches of the North Shore a breeze.
A (Not-So-Touristy) List of Boston Essentials
Boston has no shortage of things to see and do. Okay, yes, some of them are a little touristy, but they’re popular for a reason. The trick is mixing the classics with a few picks that are a bit more off the beaten path to get the real feel of the city.
Start with the classics. The Freedom Trail is the obvious one, but it’s far from the only must-do. Fenway Park, whether or not you’re a baseball fan, is pure Boston energy. The Boston Common and Public Garden are gorgeous and offer a green respite in the middle of the city, complete with swan boats and endless people-watching. And the Museum of Fine Arts is world-class, with exhibits that can keep you happily lost for hours.
If your family is like mine, you’ll also love the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium. The Science Museum is an all-day adventure with hands-on exhibits (don’t miss the lightning show — it never gets old), while the Aquarium is a perfect couple of hours, with penguins, rays, sharks, and the Giant Ocean Tank. We often pair a visit there with a walk along the waterfront or a ferry ride across the harbor.
For a taste of local flavor, stop by the SoWa Open Market on Sundays in the South End from May through October. It’s part art fair, part food truck roundup, part flea market — and a great way to spend a lazy Sunday exploring with friends.
A (Deliciously Diverse) Taste of Boston
Centuries of immigration have shaped Boston’s incredible food scene, and you can taste it in every neighborhood.
What’s Boston known for? Chowder so thick your spoon stands up in it and buttery lobster rolls that drip down your arm. But the city’s food story is much bigger than seafood, with each wave of immigration leaving its mark. Irish pubs anchor plenty of corners, while Italian cafés make the North End feel like a trip to Rome. East Boston is home to incredible Latin food — pupusas, tacos, and Salvadoran bakeries are neighborhood staples — while Chinatown serves up dim sum and authentic Chinese cuisine. In Dorchester, Vietnamese pho and banh mi are local favorites, especially along Dorchester Avenue in Fields Corner.
And of course, no Boston food tour would be complete without a Dunkin’ stop. Yes, the coffee chain is everywhere, and yes, locals really are that loyal. As a Quincy family, we have the honor of getting our coffee from the flagship Dunkies. In our house, “I’m heading to Dunkies, you want anything?” is how my partner says “I love you.”
A Wicked Quirky City
Part of what makes me love Boston so much are all its quirks — the little things that give the city its personality.
The accent is probably the most famous. Not everyone drops their Rs, but you’ll definitely hear a few “wickeds” tossed into conversation, and it’s part of what makes the city feel uniquely itself.
Boston also has a way of keeping you on your toes with the weather. Locals joke that you can experience all four seasons in a single day (for instance, just earlier today it was gorgeous but now it’s looking like we’ll probably get some thunder).
One of Boston’s sweetest traditions is the annual Christmas tree in Boston Common, a gift from Nova Scotia. The tradition dates back to 1917, when Boston sent aid after the Halifax Explosion, and Nova Scotia has thanked the city every year since. The lighting ceremony is a community favorite and a reminder of Boston’s long history of friendship and resilience.
And of course, there are the little things — winding streets with names that tell their own stories, neighborhoods with fiercely proud identities, and a deep love of sports that brings everyone together. These quirks all make Boston feel like home.
Boston might test your patience with its traffic or throw you a surprise snowstorm in April, but that’s part of the fun. What you get in return is history at your doorstep, world-class schools and hospitals, food from every corner of the globe, and neighbors who’ll chat with you in line at Dunkies. The truth is, you don’t just live in Boston — you become a Bostonian.
