About the Boston, Massachusetts Area 

Boston is and has been a cultural and educational oasis for centuries. First incorporated as a town in 1630 and as a city in 1822, Boston is one of the nation’s oldest cities, and the economic and cultural heart of Massachusetts. Home to some of the nation’s top higher education facilities and finest hospitals, Boston has world-class museums, art galleries, sporting teams and events, and shopping and dining. An economic powerhouse for the wider region, Boston has one of the best public transport systems in the nation, making it easy to beat the commute. Charming historic neighborhoods, old trees and parks and a deep-rooted sense of community and history characterize this lovely old city. 

Location
The capital of Massachusetts, Boston is in Suffolk County, on the eastern coast of the United States. Cambridge is about 5 miles north of Boston and Brookline is about 3 miles southwest. Newton is about 10 miles west of Boston. 

Geography
On the eastern coast of Massachusetts where the Charles and Mystic Rivers enter Boston Harbor, Boston was originally built on a narrow peninsula. Manmade land fills have boosted the city boundaries considerably and today Boston’s total area is slightly over 43 square miles. Boston is about 21 feet above sea level. 

Boston Harbor has one of the world’s best ports. 30 picturesque islands dot the bay. Boston’s North Shore is rocky and the sea cold and wild while the South Shore has a more gentle coastline and warmer water. Terrain to the north and west of Boston is hillier than that to the south of the city. 

Jobs
Long the principal marketplace of Massachusetts and New England, Boston has a stable and diverse economy based on health care, manufacturing, research, high technology, construction, transportation, printing and publishing, government and educational employment, real estate, finance, insurance, tourism and the wholesale, retail and service industries. 

The top fifteen companies currently employing the largest numbers of people are Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Medical Center, Harvard University, Layhey Clinic, Children’s Hospital of Boston, New England Medical Center, Genzyme Corp (biotechnology), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, MIT, Boston Medical Center, Boston Scientific Corp, Northeast Health Systems, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 

Health-care and education are primary employment sectors in Boston with the many world-renowned hospitals and universities in the area.  

Housing
Boston has many diverse neighborhoods, each with their own local shopping and dining streets and distinctive character and real estate. The North End has some of the best restaurants in the country. Back Bay has beautiful brownstones, vintage gas-lit street lamps, and elegant old parks. The Beacon Hill section of Back Bay has the city’s most expensive residential real estate (much of it from the eighteenth-century) lining charming narrow brick streets. Boston has the Fenway/Kenmore Square area and Allston has a lot of historic homes that have been divided into multifamily residences. Jamaica Plain is close to most of Boston’s major hospitals and health-care research centers and is known for the charm of its sprawling two- and three-story homes.  

Because Boston is geographically limited (built on a peninsula), there is very little brand-new construction in the city. This means that existing homes tend to be well preserved. Living in Boston gives you the chance to live in that brownstone or Victorian that you have always dreamed about. 

Homes tend to have real architectural character; it is not uncommon to find fireplaces in bedrooms or unusually lovely molding in living rooms, for example.  

While most Boston homes are single family dwellings, there are some condos around, and plenty of apartments, especially in converted historic homes. The main thing about Boston real estate is that it is diverse, with homes selling for as low as $85,500 and as high as $9 million. The current average price of a single family home in Boston is about $639,683. (Current as of 11/6/2006 Source: Boston Area MLS). 

Recreation
Boston is a beautiful old city with tree lined streets and several thousand acres devoted to parks and recreation, including the historic Boston Common and the lovely Boston Public Gardens.  

Boston Harbour is dotted with pretty islands which may be reached by boat; the Harbor is also a popular boating and kayaking spot, and there is good deep sea fishing further out.  

The Charles River is another lovely nature area, and a great spot for kayaking and swimming in summer and ice skating and skiing in winter.  

Cape Cod and the White and Green Mountains are a day trip away. 

Boston has top sports teams and excellent facilities. Teams include the Boston Red Sox (major league baseball), the Celtics (basketball), the New England Patriots (football), and the Bruins (ice hockey). 

Special Attractions/Events
It’s quite simply impossible to characterize all of Boston’s charms in a space this small. Anyone lucky enough to live here enjoys superb dining and nightlife, varied and comprehensive shopping, and one of the best cultural scenes of any national city.  

Boston has a good Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic and Ballet, a beautiful old opera house, the Boston Pops (famous for their concerts on the banks of the Charles River), and world-class museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science, and the excellent Boston Children's Museum. The Boston Zoo is well worth a visit and the New England Aquarium is first-rate. 

Thanks to its many diverse neighborhoods, there’s always something fun going on in Boston. From local celebrations and Farmer’s Markets to widely attended annual events like the Boston Marathon, St. Patrick's Day, Fourth of July, and Head of the Charles Regatta, Bostonians find plenty of ways to enjoy each others company. 

Interesting Facts
As one of the nation’s oldest cities, Boston is a piece of living history. The majority of inner city dwellings are nineteenth century or earlier, and there are plenty of homes and parks from the days of the city’s first founding.  

Among the many places of special interest are Boston Common, Old North Church, State House, Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House and Granary Burying Ground. 

The Back Bay suburb of Boston is worth a stroll through for its historic buildings and gas-lit street lamps, most especially Beacon Hill which retains its original narrow brick streets and many eighteenth-century architectural details. 

GOVERNMENT REAL ESTATE RESOURCES
Try the US Census Bureau, FedStats.com, or the Bureau of Labor Statistics for useful information. The HUD web site is full of resources. Don't forget Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Ginnie Mae. Get home buying tips from the Federal Consumer Information Center.

LOCAL INFO
Find your local Chamber of Commerce or State Government.

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