The market for off campus housing in Boston is one of the key components of the local housing economy, and in particular the apartment rental market. The City’s 2019 Student Housing Report estimated the student population to be 150,000 in Boston, the majority of which live and rent off campus. As a result, more than half of Boston’s rental leases begin on 9/1 and apartment turnover is very high. If you don’t believe me just google Allston christmas (spoiler alert: it’s not in December).
So if you’re new to renting in Boston, it can be overwhelming to see how swiftly the market moves. It’s important to keep in mind that Boston’s rental cycle is highly cyclical and predictable, but you have to plan as far out in advance as you can.
When To Look For Apartments in Boston
While it’s true that most leases for Boston apartments begin on September 1, they are often leased out months in advance. If you start your apartment search in August for your fall semester, you will be left with the bottom of the barrel in terms of available Boston apartments.
Apartment availability percentage typically peaks during Spring time in Boston towards the end of the Spring semester. This is when many students notify their landlords of their intent to vacate when there lease is over in August. As a result, you’ll typically see the highest number of available apartments during the spring months. This is when you want to begin planning for September.
How Much To Budget For An Apartment in Boston
While its true that Boston is among the highest priced rental markets in the nation, you can still find a decent place on a budget if you live with roommates. Renting a room can save you big on rent and utilities expenses, and you can typically find a room for under $1000/month in most neighborhoods.
The average rent price for a 3 bedroom apartment in all of Metro Boston is $3,044, while a 4 bedroom is $3,604 on average. Actual prices can vary greatly depending on neighborhood, but here are the average 4 bedroom prices in some of Boston’s most popular student enclaves.
South End – $5,818
Northeastern/Symphony – $4,919
Fenway – $4,291
Cambridge – $4,209
Mission Hill – $3,975
Somerville – $3,837
Allston – $3,606
Medford – $3,573
Brighton – $3,343
Jamaica Plain – $3,199
Where To Look For Off Campus Housing in Boston
The ideal neighborhood for you will largely depend on where your school is and what transportation method you use to commute there. If you can drive to campus easily, any of the aforementioned neighborhoods are great options that aren’t too far from the epicenter of schools in Boston.
If you don’t have a car or it’s not convenient to commute to campus, you’ll want to study a map of the T (Boston’s metro train) and find a neighborhood that provides easy access to campus via public transportation. If you’re attending Suffolk University, for instance, you’ll want to live in a neighborhood that has easy access to public transportation as campus is located in Downtown Boston.
If you look at the major universities in Boston, you’ll notice many of the students inhabit the neighborhoods with adjacent access via the T. Boston University students typically rent apartments in Back Bay, Fenway, and Allston. Northeastern University students favor Symphony, Longwood, Mission Hill and Jamaica Plain. Tufts University students live in Somerville and Medford usually, so on and so forth.
In Conclusion
Moving to Boston as a student can be the experience of a lifetime. In addition to world class educational institutions, the city has so much rich history and cultural offerings for its residents. It’s no wonder so many students come to Boston for their college experience. So if your navigating the housing market for the first time, this guide will give you all the local knowledge you need to avoid a headache.