Top cities
Renter tools
Smarter moves, less stress
Smarter moves, less stress
Navigate apartment hunting and city life like a local with our curated articles about Boston, Massachusetts.
Boston, Massachusetts is one of the oldest cities in America. It’s only 20 minutes from prestigious universities like Harvard and MIT, making it a hub for up-and-coming professionals. Residents and visitors alike can explore a diverse culinary scene, stunning Bayfront views, and historic Freedom Trail sights. From the North End's Italian eateries to the Boston Common's peaceful greenery, Boston is full of charm.
If you’re ready to make the move to Boston, let Apartment List find you a home. Instead of typing "apartments for rent near me" into Google and hoping for the best, use our app to search for apartments in Boston that perfectly suit your needs.
Start by downloading the app from Google Play or the App Store. Then, take the Renter Quiz and share your rental goals, including your preferred neighborhoods and amenities. The platform's AI curates a list of apartment rentals in Boston that suit your preferences.
Once you find your new home, schedule tours and communicate directly with landlords without leaving the app. With hundreds of potential rentals in Boston available, you're sure to find a location that fits your lifestyle.
National study of renter’s satisfaction with their cities and states
Apartment List has released Boston’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.
"Boston renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "However, ratings varied greatly across different categories, indicating that even though renters love Boston, some aspects can be better."
Key findings in Boston include the following:
Boston renters gave their city an A overall.
The highest-rated categories for Boston were public transit, social life and recreational activities, which all received A+ grades.
The areas of concern to Boston renters are affordability and weather, which both received D grades.
Millennial renters are very satisfied with their city, giving it an overall grade of A-.
Boston did relatively well compared to other cities in New England, including New York, NY (C+), Philadelphia, PA (C+) and New Haven, CT (D).
The top rated cities nationwide for renter satisfaction include Scottsdale, AZ, Irvine, CA, Boulder, CO and Ann Arbor, MI. The lowest rated cities include Tallahassee, FL, Stockton, CA, Dayton, OH, Detroit, MI and Newark, NJ.
Renters say:
For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.
Mission Hill bridges academic energy with historic architecture in this distinctive Boston neighborhood adjacent to multiple colleges and medical centers. Renters find diverse housing options from converted brownstones to modern apartments, with exceptional transit connectivity to downtown. Student influence creates some seasonal patterns affecting the community rhythm, but for medical professionals, graduate students, and those seeking urban connectivity without downtown prices, Mission Hill delivers remarkable value with Boston's definitive neighborhood character beyond purely undergraduate-dominated housing.
Student energy defines Allston, where this Boston neighborhood houses much of the city's academic population with particular concentrations from Boston University and Harvard. Rental options include apartments in traditional Boston triple-deckers and larger buildings throughout this vibrant district. The neighborhood offers exceptional access to both campus facilities and the developing Brighton Avenue corridor, though September 1st lease turnover creates intense competition with advance planning essential for securing quality housing.
Historic elegance defines Commonwealth Avenue, where impressive brownstones line this grand boulevard featuring a central mall designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Residents enjoy both architectural prestige and the practical benefits of living along one of Boston's primary east-west connections providing both shopping access and transportation options. Though some buildings show their age with vintage quirks requiring maintenance knowledge beyond typical renter experience, the trade-off comes in high ceilings, ornate woodwork, and architectural details unavailable in newer construction. The neighborhood's proximityto Fenway Park, the Charles River Esplanade, and multiple universities creates ideal location for both cultural experiences and recreational opportunities despite urban density.
*Based on base prices that don’t include fees
