About our Area

Boston's first resident, Reverend William Blaxton, lived alone on Beacon Hill for 5 years before settlers arrived in 1622. Now this neighborhood is home to over 10,000 people.

Over the last 350 years Boston has been growing - literally! Its central landmass has more than tripled over the course of the centuries, a feat that cannot be attributed solely to the annexation of nearby towns. Boston's growth was the result of an ingenious landfill project that created Back Bay, a portion of the Financial District and the new face of Boston's waterfront. In this section you'll learn more about our Neighborhoods - and many of the resources they offer.

Allston

Once home to stockyards, slaughterhouses and meatpacking industries, Allston today is a thriving mecca of activity. Largely populated by students and young families, Allston caters to the individual looking for something different-and cheap. It's hard to turn a corner in this neighborhood without running into a discount furniture or thrift store. Allston's Harvard Ave. boasts everything from upscale eateries and pool halls to local dives and mom-and-pop grocery stores. There's rarely a quiet moment in this neighborhood-everyone from students to the elderly traverse the streets of Allston through all hours of the day and night.

Back Bay

The Back Bay, once a stagnant pool of water behind the Public Garden, now holds some of the most exclusive real estate in Boston. A stroll down Newbury St. will take you from high fashion to hip ice cream parlors, and a walk back up Commonwealth Ave. will let you take in some of the most elegant townhouses in the city. With its rows of historic homes and a vibrant commercial district to boot, Back Bay is an elegant and exciting place to live.

Brighton

Brighton, like neighboring Allston, was home to agricultural plots and stockyards in post-colonial days. The extension of street car lines in the 1800s, however, encouraged residential growth, and soon houses and apartments were built across the neighborhood. Unlike Allston today, Brighton is fairly quiet, especially at night. The neighborhood, which is primarily populated by graduate students, young professionals and families, consists of an intricate network of streets lined with houses and small apartment buildings. Local family businesses mix with national chains of pharmacies and banks along Brighton's main drag, Washington St, which runs straight through Brighton Center to Oak Square.

Fenway / Kenmore

The Fenway, perhaps best known as the home for the "boys of summer," is more than just a ballpark. It is actually a dense urban neighborhood with a considerable amount of green space (the "Fens"). Although the Fenway consists of a large number of college students, it also contains a significant population of professionals, young and old. The famous (or infamous) Landsdowne Street, bordering the Mass Pike on the North and Fenway Park on the South, is home to many of Bostons most popular clubs and watering holes. If you travel the street, however, keep your eyes open for the occasional home run ball that clears the green monster.

Mission Hill

Once filled with farms and most of the breweries in Boston, Mission Hill today is an architectural landmark district with a combination of freestanding houses built by early wealthy landowners, blocks of traditional brick rowhouses, and many three deckers. Many families and some students and staff from the nearby Longwood Medical Area come to Mission Hill for the affordable rents. A diverse community in proximity to downtown, Mission Hill offers its residents an excellent view of the city from an historic neighborhood.

Summaries on this page courtesy of the City of Boston website.