Boston is a city of change, but it also hosts a dynamic history for residents to explore. While some view it as a college town, many tech, healthcare, and financial services professionals now flock to the area’s multitude of professional opportunities.

From world-renowned universities, to vibrant city life, serene suburbs, and easy access to nature, Boston can go toe-to-toe with the best cities in the world. There is something for everyone in Boston, provided you like to experience all four seasons of course.

Higher education in Boston

Many people originally come to Boston to attend one of their many universities and some end up living in Boston after graduation. 

Over 40 colleges and universities are located in the Boston metro area and they specialize in everything from law, medicine, technology, theology, music, and more. People come from around the world to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Tufts, or one of the other fine institutes of higher learning in Boston and the surrounding cities.  

Surrounding these colleges is some of the most sought after real estate on the east coast. Buyers can find LEEDs-certified high-rise condos in Seaport that are a train ride away from Boston University to collections of historic homes near Harvard dating back to the founding of Cambridge. 

Boston is alive with young adults just getting their start in life, and many students end up becoming residents following graduation after falling in love with the many charms of this historical city. 

Growing tech scene

Boston is known as the Birthplace of the American Revolution, and that spirit lives through graduates of the famous engineering and physics departments at MIT and Harvard. 

Kendall Square, across the river from Back Bay, served as a strategic industrial port. It is now called the most innovative square mile on the planet, due to the numerous information tech and biotech firms in the area. 

Companies like Google, Wayfair, DraftKings, Hubspot, and TripAdvisor all have offices in either Cambridge or the Greater Boston area. Technology execs and engineers looking for a place to live can find condos along the water in Kendall Square or take a Red Line train to seek out historic homes in some of Boston’s affluent neighborhoods. 

Downtown neighborhoods, convenient suburbs

Boston used to be a challenge to drive to and around because I-93 ran directly through Seaport and the North End. Luckily, the Big Dig project diverted traffic under the city and out to Charlestown, thus opening up the Seaport for development. Now, luxury, high-rise condo buildings occupy formerly unused waterfront real estate. 

Boston is a cozy city with the North and West Ends nestled up against Beacon Hill and the South End. Getting to and from these neighborhoods isn’t an issue by car, foot or public transport. The chilly winters in Boston may not be for everyone, but the MBTA combats this through accessible trains and buses criss-crossing Boston. These commuter lines allow residents to easily travel across the city from Allston to Jamaica Plain or even Roxbury. 

Whether you are seeking a Downtown vibe in one of the more expensive neighborhoods in Boston or extra space in the suburbs, the Greater Boston area has something for everyone. The housing costs aren’t cheap in either area, but commuting isn’t a chore. Unlike more congested northeast cities like New York, many of Boston’s suburbs provide quick access to Downtown Boston.

Drinks, dining & shopping

While Little Italy in NYC hosts an impressive array of old world Italian cooking, any foodie looking for a new home would be remiss to not include the North End of Boston in their search. Many Italians immigrated to the area in the 20th century and turned the North End into a mecca of Italian cuisine. Be sure to stop by the famous Galleria Umberto’s for Sicilian cooking or head over to Giacomo’s Boston North End to savor classic Italian seafood dishes. 

Beyond Italian, neighborhood adventurers can find a plethora of Irish bars serving shepherds pie and a pint across Beacon Hill and Charlestown, which is home to Boston’s oldest pub, the Warren Tavern. The South End is home to an eclectic mix of art galleries, shops, and restaurants featuring French, Italian, and Asian cuisines where diners can relax after a day working in Downtown Boston. 

For locals with shopping on their mind, Kendall Square is home to the Side Galleria Mall, where shoppers can find a variety of small boutiques and larger outlet stores with plenty of dining options nearby. Just across the Charles River from Kendall Square is Back Bay, home to wide avenues, mansard-roofed buildings, and small corner store boutiques nestled in the orderly streets of the neighborhood. 

Easy access to nature

There are a ton of activities to do in Boston, but half of the fun of living in this great city is the proximity to summer and winter vacation locales. 

If a day spent at the beach followed by time in a quaint seaside town is your style, the hamlets of Nantasket, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and the numerous towns on Cape Cod can meet your summertime needs. If your soul desires time on the water, Massachusetts is known for a distinctive sailing and fishing culture, with many anglers heading out of Gloucester, MA.

If you prefer the mountains, you will be pleased to know that there are plenty of opportunities to take I-90 to escape to the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. Home to towns like Lenox and Great Barrington, Bostonians need only drive a few hours to find solitude and small-town charms outside of the hustle and bustle of Boston. 

There are also plenty of skiing options not too far away, like Catamount Mountain Resort and Ski Butternut. But if you’re seeking high altitudes and steeper runs, a drive up I-91 takes you right into Vermont, where you’ll find Killington, Okemo, and Pico Mountains.

A truly American history

Boston was one of the first American colonies founded in 1630 by Puritans seeking respite from religious persecution. Originally called the Shawmut Peninsula, the North End is where the settlement started, and development efforts filled the surrounding tidal marshes to create sprawling neighborhoods like Back Bay, with its spacious streets and Parisian style homes. 

Bostonians have a defiant spirit, and when the British Crown placed undue taxes on stamps and tea in the 1760s, citizens revolted. This led to the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party, kindling the start of the American Revolution. To experience a taste of some of these historical sites, Boston visitors should visit the Freedom Trail.

Not only is Boston known for bringing forth the American Revolution, but it is also known for being a welcoming beacon for all groups. Boston is an iconic port of trade, like New York, and over the centuries has been the first stop for many immigrants coming to America, welcoming people from Ireland, Russian, Germany, and Lebanon, to name a few. 

The City of Boston blazed the trail of the abolitionist movement in the United States. In the early 1800s leading up to the Civil War, abolitionists petitioned for anti-slavery legislation, and Boston provided safety for those lucky enough to escape the bonds of slavery in the South. The West End of Boston provided homes to newly-freed slaves, empowering them with a shot at the American Dream. The Museum of African American History on Joy Street preserves the efforts of Bostonians to give quarter and shelter to African Americans. 

Making the move to Boston

Once you decide to relocate to this great city, and not just visit for the Boston Marathon or vacation, you will likely want to buy a home or condo in your favorite neighborhood. 

To get a sense of all that Boston real estate has to offer, browse listings and see where you will want to call home.