The 10 Best Affordable Neighborhoods in Boston, MA | ApartmentHomeLiving.com Renters Guide

Boston is known for its exciting combination of early American history and modern high-tech universities and employers. Walk the streets, and you’ll encounter buildings that played a role in the American Revolution nestled right in the shadow of ultra-modern skyscrapers. While Boston is often mentioned in Top 10 lists for the most expensive places to live, the city is home to several affordable neighborhoods — provided that you know where to look!

I’m Amelia, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com local expert for Boston, Massachusetts, and I’m excited to take you on a tour of my city. Whether you want to live in an up-and-coming new neighborhood filled with nightlife or you’re looking for something a little more relaxed and quiet, your perfect neighborhood is right here.

Fields Corner East

Fields Corner East in Dorchester (a.k.a. “DOT” to its residents) is known for its diverse population — and its diverse restaurant scene, especially if you’re a fan of pho (which I am). In fact, Fields Corner East has more Vietnamese restaurants per square mile than anywhere else in New England (my personal favorite is Pho Le, which is also open late).

For folks with families, Mather Elementary is a standout school just off of Dorchester Ave. It’s the oldest free public elementary school in North America with a fascinating history. DOT and Fields Corner are served by the Red Line, and it’s a quick hop into downtown any time you want to visit. Fields Corner East is popular with families, young professionals, and international immigrants, and apartment rentals are a blend of three-story triple-deckers (a common style in Boston residential neighborhoods) along with older apartment complexes and several newer developments.

Uphams Corner

Also in Dorchester, Uphams Corner sits right next to the Columbia Rotary — practically the hub to access all points in Boston. Hop on the Rotary and get off in Southie for some hip nightlife, or easily access 93 for points north and south of Boston. You can also easily catch the Red Line into downtown (or further south, if you like, to the adjacent cities of Quincy and Braintree). Uphams Corner mixes residential areas with small businesses, and like Fields Corner East, it’s a culturally diverse area filled with families and young professionals.

I live nearby and often come to Uphams Corner for the Strand Theatre, which hosts everything from the ballet to panel discussions. Dog owners should stop by the Downer Avenue Dog Park, which while located in a relatively small space, is built with levels — a fun and unique challenge for dogs. Uphams Corner rentals are a blend of older multi-family homes, the classic triple-decker, and several newer apartment buildings.

Jamaica Hills Pond

If you want to sound like you’ve lived here all your life, be sure to refer to Jamaica Plain as “JP.” Jamaica Hills Pond, located in JP, is a residential neighborhood with a much quieter and laid-back vibe compared to some of the busier neighborhoods on this list. The Pond itself is a point of interest — despite its name, it’s actually big enough to support a boathouse and a busy boating community. If you choose a home in this area, you may want to invest in a kayak or paddleboard (or you can rent from the boathouse).

Whether you’re renting a unit in a multi-family home or a newer apartment building, one of the biggest advantages of living in this area is the access to green space. The neighborhood is especially family-friendly, and many professionals also call Jamaica Hills Pond home.

The schools in Jamaica Hills Pond are known to be great, especially the notable standouts The English High School and Curley K8. JP is on the Orange Line, which can get you into Downtown Boston in about 15 minutes.

Hyde Square

Hyde Square is a bright and vibrant, artsy-feeling neighborhood in JP with a great mix of Latin culture, restaurants, and businesses. Not far from Jamaica Pond, the area is busy while still keeping a strong community feel with significant Latin American influence. The community farms and gardens in Hyde Square are especially noteworthy — I’ve gone out of my way to drive through the area just to see how they’re growing, especially in summer when they’re in full swing.

Filled with young families and professionals, many of the folks living in Hyde Square have called the neighborhood home for a long time. Curley K8 serves this neighborhood as well as Jamaica Hills Pond, and rentals here are predominantly a mix of affordable small apartment buildings and triple-deckers. Residents can head into Boston on the Orange Line at Jackson Square and arrive in about 15 minutes.

Lower Allston

Lower Allston is a quiet, more laid-back residential neighborhood. One of the biggest perks of Lower Allston is the ample parking — and if you don’t think that’s a perk, you must be new to Boston! Home to Harvard’s Allston campus, your neighbors here will include Harvard students as well as young professionals and families, many of whom enjoy weekends and evenings at the neighborhood’s beautiful parks along the Charles River.

It’s probably no surprise that this area is known for excellent schools — standouts include Boston Green Academy and Gardner Pilot Academy. Rentals in this area primarily include multi-family homes and smaller apartment complexes. Lower Allston relies on the Green Line and is close to the Boston Landing commuter rail. The train will get you downtown in about 20 minutes.

Commonwealth

If you like the sound of Lower Allston but you’re looking for something a little more lively, Commonwealth might be a great fit for you. Comm Ave is hopping and densely populated, especially with students from nearby Boston University and Boston College. As a BU graduate myself (go Terriers!), I love this part of town — especially all the incredible restaurants on Comm Ave. There’s something for everyone here, from small coffeehouses to Japanese to Mexican tapas, so take time to explore! The vibe is exciting and busy with a great nightlife scene.

Residents of Commonwealth are primarily younger and diverse. Plenty of students of the nearby universities and colleges call this neighborhood home, along with young professionals who love the busy-ness of the neighborhood. While there tend to be fewer families in the area, there are a few notable schools, including Edison K8 and Jackson/Mann. Apartment living in the Commonwealth neighborhood tends toward large apartment complexes and units in historic brownstone buildings.

The T’s Green Line B branch runs straight down Comm Ave, and downtown is just about 20 minutes away.

Roxbury

One of the biggest advantages of living in Roxbury is the stunning Franklin Park and the attached Franklin Park Zoo. The Franklin Park Zoo has long been a favorite spot for my family, and the park itself is Boston’s biggest open space — with everything from a cross-country running course to a pond and several playgrounds. Make sure you also take the time to visit the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists at the Abbotsford Estate, especially around Christmas to see the famous Langston Hughes Black Nativity.

Roxbury is also home to the highly rated John D. O’Bryant School of Math & Science, a public college prep exam school focused on STEM, integrated with humanities. Roxbury is connected to downtown Boston by the Orange Line. The area has a diverse population with a strong sense of community. Plenty of families and working professionals call Roxbury home. Homes in the area are a mix of historic brownstones as well as multi-family homes and newer developments.

Seaport

Seaport is Boston’s newest neighborhood, with brand new residential construction sprouting up all over, primarily in the form of high-rise luxury condos. Seaport is also home to trendy businesses, with new dining and retail hot spots constantly appearing. It’s hard to believe that not so long ago this area was primarily, well, a seaport with hotels that mostly served the adjacent Boston Convention Center.

The vibe in Seaport is new, hip, and trendy, from its busy nightlife scene to exciting restaurants, especially the waterfront seafood. Many of the office buildings sprouting up in Seaport are filled with tech and finance companies, making it easy for young professionals to live just a quick hop from the office and also enjoy everything Seaport has to offer. Seaport is also home to the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Boston Children’s Museum.

While there aren’t many schools located within Seaport proper, notable nearby options include Eliot K-8 Innovation School in the North End. Seaport is only 10 minutes from downtown on the Silver Line and is close to South Station. Boston’s Logan Airport is just across a short stretch of water — only a couple minutes away on I-90.

Waterfront

If you love the idea of living on the water but you’re not up for the trendy nightlife of Seaport, Waterfront might be more your speed. Waterfront is within walking distance of the New England Aquarium, one of the most stunning aquariums in the country, and a favorite spot for my family. When you visit, be sure to check out the incredible Giant Ocean Tank — and say hi to Myrtle, the green sea turtle who’s been living at the Aquarium since 1970. Like Seaport, you’ll have easy access to the airport, and you are also just a few minutes from Castle Island (Fort Independence), a beautiful park with great walking trails.

Waterfront’s overall atmosphere is a big contrast from the hopping Seaport while still keeping the upscale feel. The views are gorgeous, and it’s a popular destination spot for tourists and locals alike. Like Seaport, Waterfront doesn’t have many public schools, and families in the area are primarily served by schools in neighboring districts. Just five short minutes from downtown, Waterfront can be reached by the Blue Line and ferry.

While some families do call Waterfront home, folks living in this neighborhood mostly include professionals who work in Boston as well as many retirees. Rentals in Waterfront tend to range from luxury apartments and condos to more affordable apartments in historic buildings. One thing’s for sure — your view is likely to be spectacular.

Prudential

The Prudential neighborhood is located in the Back Bay area of Boston, a busy part of town known especially for luxury shopping and fine dining. The area is especially popular with tourists, many of whom are probably there to check out the Prudential Center (a.k.a “The Pru”), the third tallest building in Boston and home to an entire shopping mall on its lower levels. As a high schooler and college student, I used to take the T into Boston just to hang out at the Pru.

While you’re visiting the Pru, head to the 52nd floor to check out stunning views of the entire city of Boston. The three-floor observatory only recently reopened following its closure in 2020 due to the pandemic, and it’s better than ever with interactive exhibits and some of the best dining in Boston.

The Prudential neighborhood connects to downtown and other neighborhoods via the Green Line, with stations at both the Pru and Back Bay Station. Many young professionals call this neighborhood home, primarily renting in residential high-rises and brownstones. Notable schools in this neighborhood include Commonwealth School and Boston Latin School.