Living a College Town Lifestyle in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts is the iconic college town. Considered by many to be the historic capital of the U.S., Boston has just about anything that anyone could want. Its downtown is walkable, safe, and interesting. There are many parks and every kind of urban amenity - museums, shopping, restaurants, mass transit, and theatre. Friends and grandchildren will beat a path to your door. Boston's population is just under 500,000, although 4.4 million live in the Metro area. Thanks to the T, its fabled mass transit system, you can live almost anywhere and be downtown in minutes.

Boston is famously progressive, a citywide sentiment strengthened from a multitude of colleges ranging from the prestigious private Boston College to the nationally ranked public Boston University. There is perhaps no college city to rival it.

Where to Retire in Boston and Home Prices

There are many great neighborhoods in and around Boston.  Streets close to the Charles River can be quite beautiful. Cambridge, home to MIT and Harvard University, has some wonderful areas. Beacon Hill is one of the most posh neighborhoods in America. A walk through it and the nearby Boston Common, the oldest park in America, will explain why. But there are other choices such as the historic North End that are convenient to town. The city is so big that if you are thinking of retiring here you need to spend some time to understand all of the many neighborhoods you could live in. As some experts have said, Boston has examples of every kind of American architecture. While expensive, there are many places to live here, including its many suburbs.
According to the National Association of Realtors, the median sale price of a home in the Boston-Cambidge-Newton MA-NH area was $639,000 during the 1st quarter of 2022. Obviously, there is great variation depending on neighborhood.

What Is Special about Boston

American history at your feet. Boston Harbor and the Charles River. America's top universities. Great mass transit. Famous restaurants. Great theatre. Many public parks. The Boston Red Sox

What Is Not Special about Boston

Traffic. High cost of living and taxes. New England winters.

Climate and Physical Environment

Boston's climate is that of New England - warm summers, great spring and fall, and cold winters with snow and rain. The Charles River separates Cambridge from Boston, Boston Harbor (home of a famous Tea Party) is to the east. The Mystic River is here as well.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Boston's theatres include the Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston Opera House, The Wang Center for the Performing Arts, Shubert Theater, and the Orpheum Theater. The city's many universities; Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Northeastern, Tufts, and Brandeis provide unparalled cultural opportunities. Its performing arts groups include the Boston Ballet, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Boston Lyric Opera Company, and the Handel and Haydn Society. The city has many important festivals and celebrations during the year. Boston's professional sports teams include the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots.

Crime

The crime rate is well above average.

Medical Facilities

Some of the nation's top medical facilities are here in Boston, including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and many more.

Transportation

Logan International is one of the world's top airports. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operates the nation's first underground rapid transit system, referred to as the T. Amtrak has major inter-city transportation. I 95 and the Mass Turnpike run through or near the city.

Valuable Links

Wikipedia on Boston
Boston City-Data
More community reviews at Topretirements
City of Boston
Massachusetts mini-guide to retirement in Massachusetts
Boston Convention and Visitors Guide

Rate This Town