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LifeSkills city guide

Boston

United States

Capital of Massachusetts and heart of New England, Boston is the most university city in the United States: the metropolitan area has over one hundred universities, including Harvard and MIT (in Cambridge, on the other side of the river), Boston University and Northeastern. It is also a major hub for biotechnology, healthcare and finance. Historic, compact and fully walkable — small by American standards — it is served by the “T,” the oldest subway in the country. The downside is the cost of living, among the highest in the USA, and a very tough rental market (with the chaotic "moving day" of September 1st). The winters are cold, but the quality of life and the university offerings are at the top.

Explore neighborhoods Compare neighborhoods
Safety 74/100
Affordability 26/100
Student-friendly 94/100
Nightlife 70/100
Transport 78/100

Last reviewed: 2026-07-23. Rent, scores and commute notes are indicative and should be verified before real decisions.

Interactive map

City Council Districts di Boston

Official administrative boundaries: City Council Districts. Select an area to view the available data.

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Verified geographic dataset

Boundary source: City of Boston — City Council Districts (City of Boston Open Data Terms). Base map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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Neighborhood ranking

Best neighborhoods for students

  1. Back Bay / Fenway 94/100
  2. Allston / Brighton 92/100
  3. Roxbury 86/100
  4. Jamaica Plain (JP) 84/100

Best neighborhoods for nightlife

  1. South End / Seaport / South Boston 80/100
  2. Back Bay / Fenway 94/100
  3. Allston / Brighton 92/100
  4. North End / Charlestown / East Boston 80/100

Best neighborhoods for quiet living

  1. Roslindale / West Roxbury 82/100
  2. Jamaica Plain (JP) 84/100
  3. Dorchester 78/100
  4. North End / Charlestown / East Boston 80/100

Best neighborhoods for low rent

  1. Dorchester 1,000 USD
  2. Roxbury 1,050 USD
  3. Roslindale / West Roxbury 1,100 USD
  4. Allston / Brighton 1,150 USD

Best neighborhoods for safety

  1. Back Bay / Fenway 94/100
  2. Roslindale / West Roxbury 82/100
  3. South End / Seaport / South Boston 80/100
  4. North End / Charlestown / East Boston 80/100

Neighborhood cards

Where to live in Boston

Back Bay / Fenway

Student hub

Back Bay / Fenway: The student and elegant heart: chic Back Bay (brownstone, Newbury St), Fenway and Kenmore full of students (BU, Northeastern, Berklee), Fenway Park. Central and lively

Room
1,400 USD
Studio
2,600 USD
Apartment
3,400 USD
Safety 80 Student-friendly 94 Nightlife 78 Commute 90
Pros
  • student-friendly: 94/100 in this guide.
  • Indicative room rent: 1,400 USD.
  • Useful for Boston University (BU).
Cons
  • Check the exact block and building before signing.
  • Busier profile: check noise and activity at different times.
  • Rent and commute are indicative and depend on the exact address.
student-friendlycentralpremium

Allston / Brighton

Lower rent

Allston / Brighton: The student neighborhood par excellence: lively and economical Allston "student ghetto", residential Brighton, close to BU and BC. Young, approachable and accessible

Room
1,150 USD
Studio
2,000 USD
Apartment
2,700 USD
Safety 72 Student-friendly 92 Nightlife 76 Commute 80
Pros
  • student-friendly: 92/100 in this guide.
  • Indicative room rent: 1,150 USD.
  • Useful for Boston University (BU).
Cons
  • Check the exact block and building before signing.
  • Busier profile: check noise and activity at different times.
  • Rent and commute are indicative and depend on the exact address.
low rentstudent-friendlynear universities

Roxbury

Student hub

Roxbury: Historic heart of African-American culture, central and transforming: close to Northeastern and museums, with more accessible fees. The area needs to be evaluated

Room
1,050 USD
Studio
1,800 USD
Apartment
2,400 USD
Safety 58 Student-friendly 86 Nightlife 54 Commute 82
Pros
  • student-friendly: 86/100 in this guide.
  • Indicative room rent: 1,050 USD.
  • Useful for Northeastern University (Mission Hill).
Cons
  • Safety score is 58/100: inspect the exact street and building.
  • Busier profile: check noise and activity at different times.
  • Rent and commute are indicative and depend on the exact address.
student-friendlynear universitieslow rent

Jamaica Plain (JP)

Balanced

Jamaica Plain (JP): The green, hip and progressive neighborhood: pond and arboretum, cuisine and breweries, diverse and active community. Liveable, trendy and more accessible than the centre

Room
1,200 USD
Studio
2,100 USD
Apartment
2,800 USD
Safety 74 Student-friendly 84 Nightlife 62 Commute 80
Pros
  • student-friendly: 84/100 in this guide.
  • Indicative room rent: 1,200 USD.
  • Useful for Northeastern (by metro).
Cons
  • Check the exact block and building before signing.
  • Busier profile: check noise and activity at different times.
  • Rent and commute are indicative and depend on the exact address.
balancednear universitiesquiet

Study

Major universities in Boston

Harvard University

Elite private (Ivy League; in Cambridge, across the river)

See on the map
RightBusiness (HBS)MedicineScienceArts and sciencesGovernment (Kennedy School)
Nearest neighborhoods
Allston/BrightonNorth End / Charlestown / East BostonBack Bay/Fenway
Commute from top areas
  • Allston/Brighton10-20 min (Harvard is in Cambridge, across the river)
  • North End / Charlestown / East Boston20-30 min (Red Line)
  • Back Bay/Fenway25-35 min

MIT — Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Elite private (science and engineering; in Cambridge, heart of Kendall Square)

See on the map
EngineeringInformaticsPhysicsEconomyBusiness (Sloan)Architecture
Commute from top areas
  • North End / Charlestown / East Boston15-25 min (MIT is in Cambridge)
  • Back Bay/Fenway15-25 min (Red Line/bus)
  • South End / Seaport / South Boston20-30 min

Boston University (BU)

Private (one of the largest in the US; ~37,000 students, very international)

See on the map
Business (Questrom)CommunicationEngineeringMedicineRightArts
Nearest neighborhoods
Back Bay/FenwayAllston/BrightonSouth End / Seaport / South Boston
Commute from top areas
  • Back Bay/Fenway5-15 min (Comm Ave, Green Line B)
  • Allston/Brighton5-15 min
  • South End / Seaport / South Boston15-25 min

Northeastern University

Private (known for work co-op programs; ~38,000 students)

See on the map
BusinessEngineeringInformaticsHealth SciencesRightDesign
Nearest neighborhoods
Back Bay/FenwayRoxburySouth End / Seaport / South Boston
Commute from top areas
  • Back Bay/Fenway5-10 min (Fenway/Ruggles)
  • Roxbury5-15 min (Mission Hill)
  • South End / Seaport / South Boston10-20 min

Boston College (BC)

Private (Jesuit; strong in law, business and social sciences)

See on the map
Business (Carroll)RightSocial sciencesArts and sciencesEducation
Nearest neighborhoods
Allston/BrightonBack Bay/FenwayRoslindale/West Roxbury
Commute from top areas
  • Allston/Brighton10-20 min (Chestnut Hill)
  • Back Bay/Fenway20-30 min (Green Line B)
  • Roslindale/West Roxbury20-30 min

Rent analysis

Average rent by neighborhood

Indicative monthly asking levels for rooms, studios and apartments.

Back Bay / Fenway
1,400 USD
South End / Seaport / South Boston
1,450 USD
North End / Charlestown / East Boston
1,350 USD
Allston / Brighton
1,150 USD
Jamaica Plain (JP)
1,200 USD
Roxbury
1,050 USD
Dorchester
1,000 USD
Roslindale / West Roxbury
1,100 USD
Neighborhood cardsRoomStudioApartment
Back Bay / Fenway1,400 USD2,600 USD3,400 USD
South End / Seaport / South Boston1,450 USD2,700 USD3,500 USD
North End / Charlestown / East Boston1,350 USD2,500 USD3,300 USD
Allston / Brighton1,150 USD2,000 USD2,700 USD
Jamaica Plain (JP)1,200 USD2,100 USD2,800 USD
Roxbury1,050 USD1,800 USD2,400 USD
Dorchester1,000 USD1,750 USD2,350 USD
Roslindale / West Roxbury1,100 USD1,850 USD2,500 USD

Cheapest: Dorchester, Roxbury, Roslindale / West Roxbury

Mid-range: Roslindale / West Roxbury, Allston / Brighton, Jamaica Plain (JP)

Premium: South End / Seaport / South Boston, Back Bay / Fenway, North End / Charlestown / East Boston

Safety

Safety notes

Safer neighborhoods

Roslindale/West Roxbury, Back Bay/Fenway, North End / Charlestown / East Boston

Areas to be careful with

parts of Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan in the evening, areas around some “T” stations late at night, petty crime in crowded and university areas

  • Boston is overall a safe and human-scale city by American standards: the most common risk is petty crime, concentrated in some areas (parts of Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan), far from the neighborhoods where the majority of students and expats live.
  • The city is very student and walkable, so you can easily get around on foot and with the "T" even in the evening; as always, safety varies from neighborhood to neighborhood and from street to street.
  • Winters are cold and snowy (to be taken into account for clothing and travel), but spring and autumn are splendid.

Student perspective: Students: Back Bay/Fenway for BU, Northeastern and Berklee; Allston/Brighton (the cheapest) for BU and BC; Mission Hill (Roxbury) for Northeastern. Harvard and MIT are in Cambridge, across the river, with their own student neighborhoods. Sharing is the norm and it is best to look for a house well in advance of the "moving day" of September 1st.

Nightlife

Where to go out

Fenway / Lansdowne St

sports bars, clubs, student night

Around Fenway Park, sports bars and clubs (Lansdowne Street) crowded with students, especially on game days.

Allston

live music, dive bars, cheap clubs

The heart of the student and indie night: live houses, dive bars and cheap clubs, much loved by university students.

Seaport / South Boston

rooftop bars, modern clubs, cocktails

The modern waterfront district, with rooftop bars, breweries and cocktail bars frequented by young professionals.

South End

cocktail bars, LGBTQ+ clubs, restaurants

The gastronomic district and LGBTQ+ heart of the city, with cocktail bars and quality restaurants for more refined evenings.

North End

wine bars, Italian restaurants, aperitifs

“Little Italy”, perfect for an evening among trattorias, wine bars and historic pastry shops.

Transport

Getting around Boston

Boston is compact, historic and fully walkable — small by American standards — and is served by the MBTA (“the T”), the oldest subway in the United States: four lines, plus buses, commuter trains and ferries. You pay with the CharlieCard. The city is one of the few in the US where you can live comfortably without a car, and many students travel between campuses on foot or by bike.

Metro MBTA subway (“the T”): 4 lines (Red, Green, Blue, Orange) connecting downtown, campuses and Cambridge (Harvard, MIT), as well as the Silver Line (BRT) to the Seaport and the airportCommuter Rail: Commuter trains that connect Boston to the suburbs and cities of New EnglandFerry: Ferries on the harbor to Charlestown, East Boston and the coastal suburbs
Tram / busThe MBTA bus network complements the subway extensively, along with the Silver Line (rapid bus) to the Seaport and airport. Everything is paid for with the CharlieCard; the Green Line is partly a historic surface tramway.
TrainSouth Station and North Station are the large railway hubs: the Commuter Rail connects the suburbs, Amtrak connects Boston to New York (~4 hours, or ~3h30 with the Acela) and Washington; Logan International Airport is very close to the center (Blue Line, Silver Line, ferry).
Pass info MBTA with CharlieCard: $2.40 per subway rideLinkPass monthly pass $90 (subway + bus)discounted passes for many students through the universityliving well in the center without a car
WalkabilityExcellent: Boston is one of the most walkable cities in the United States, compact, historic and with human-scale neighborhoods; downtown, Back Bay, North End and university areas are easily explored on foot.
Bike-friendlinessGood and growing: Bluebikes bike sharing is widespread and the cycle network has expanded greatly (protected paths on many axes, along the Charles River); the city is quite compact and flat, ideal for cycling, even if the cold winter limits it.

Transport sources MBTA — Rete “the T”, mappe e tariffeAmtrak — Treni verso New York e la costa estBluebikes — Bike sharing di Boston

Cost of living

Monthly budget estimate

Reference monthly budget $2,100-3,300/month

shared room + utilities + groceries + transportation · excluding very high university tuition

Spending items

Food approximately $400-650/month (personal spending) cheap meal ~$30
Transport MBTA (“the T”): $2.40 per subway ride with CharlieCard, $90 monthly LinkPass pass (subway + bus). Many students have discounted passes through the university in the center you can live without a car
Utilities approximately $254 per apartment internet ~$83
Coffee / bars cappuccino about $5.10 cheap meal around $30

Budget sources Numbeo — Costo della vita a BostonMBTA — Tariffe e abbonamenti (“the T”)

Decision guide

Pros and cons of living in Boston

5 strengths

  1. Boston is compact, historic and fully walkable — small by American standards — and is served by the MBTA (“the T”), the oldest subway in the United States: four lines, plus buses, commuter trains and ferries. You pay with the CharlieCard. The city is one of the few in the US where you can live comfortably without a car, and many students travel between campuses on foot or by bike.
  2. Harvard University, MIT — Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University (BU): poli di studio rilevanti per la città.
  3. Students: Back Bay/Fenway for BU, Northeastern and Berklee; Allston/Brighton (the cheapest) for BU and BC; Mission Hill (Roxbury) for Northeastern. Harvard and MIT are in Cambridge, across the river, with their own student neighborhoods. Sharing is the norm and it is best to look for a house well in advance of the "moving day" of September 1st.
  4. Boston has some of the highest rents in the US: a room in a shared apartment often costs $1,000-1,450 and a studio apartment easily exceeds $2,500. Sharing is the norm, thanks to the enormous student population.
  5. Back Bay / Fenway, South End / Seaport / South Boston, North End / Charlestown / East Boston sono tra le zone analizzate nella guida.

5 drawbacks

  1. Boston is overall a safe and human-scale city by American standards: the most common risk is petty crime, concentrated in some areas (parts of Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan), far from the neighborhoods where the majority of students and expats live.
  2. The rental market is very particular: most contracts start on September 1st (the chaotic "moving day"), so the search is concentrated and frenetic; it is better to move many months in advance. There is often an agency commission (broker fee) equal to one month.
  3. Back Bay among the highest rents in the city
  4. Rent, scores and commute notes are indicative and should be verified before real decisions.

FAQ

Questions about moving to Boston

Is Boston a good city for students?

Yes, it is perhaps the university city par excellence in the United States: the metropolitan area has over one hundred universities, including Harvard and MIT (in Cambridge), Boston University, Northeastern and Boston College. Student life is immense, the city is compact, safe and walkable, and you can live without a car. The obstacles are the cost (rents among the highest in the USA) and high fees; It is best to look for a house well in advance.

Is Boston a good city for workers?

Yes, especially in biotech, healthcare, research and education: Boston and Cambridge are a global hub for life sciences (“Genetown”, with Kendall Square), as well as finance and tech (Seaport). The opportunities for qualified profiles are many, the salaries are high but also the cost of living. The compact city and the “T” make living without a car convenient.

Which neighborhoods are worth looking at?

For students: Back Bay/Fenway (BU, Northeastern, Berklee), Allston/Brighton (the cheapest, BU and BC), Mission Hill (Northeastern); Harvard and MIT are in Cambridge. For those who work in tech/biotech: Seaport and South End. For livability and greenery: Jamaica Plain. For quiet and lower prices: Roslindale/West Roxbury.

Which neighborhoods are cheapest?

Allston/Brighton (very student), Dorchester, part of Roxbury and Roslindale have some of the most accessible rents while still connected by the “T”. In general, moving away from the center and the more fashionable areas (Back Bay, Seaport) prices drop; Dorchester and Roxbury require attention to the exact area, however.

Is public transport convenient?

Yes, by US standards it is among the best: the MBTA (“the T”) is the oldest subway in the country and covers the center, campuses and Cambridge well, supplemented by buses, commuter trains and ferries. The city is compact and walkable, and you can live comfortably without a car. The downside is that the network is old and subject to delays and construction.

How much budget is needed?

For a student approximately $2,100-3,300 per month for shared room, utilities, groceries and transportation; university fees and health insurance are separate and very high. Those who work most often fall between $3,200 and $5,000, depending on the neighborhood. The house is the dominant voice.

What is "moving day" on September 1st?

In Boston, the vast majority of rental contracts begin (and end) on September 1st, coinciding with the start of the academic year. The result is a single, chaotic day of mass moving across the city (especially in Allston, hence the nickname “Allston Christmas” for the abandoned furniture). It means that the house search is concentrated and frenetic: it is best to start many months in advance.