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Fenway

Fenway

$762,783 Average Value
$1,127 Average Price per Sq Ft
73 Homes For Sale

The best reasons to live in Fenway

Fenway shares its name with the major league ballpark that anchors this Boston neighborhood. Situated west of downtown along the Mass Pike and the Charles River, Fenway is a swinging place that's alive with activity. Fenway Park is the star, but the neighborhood is chock-full of universities, museums, restaurants and pubs. The Back Bay Fens offer space to relax, and ample public transit supports car-free living. On that note, health care centers like Beth Israel and Boston Children’s Hospital are just a mile away, drawing medical professionals to this part of the city.

The Fenway neighborhood is the home of baseball's historic Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox.
The Fenway neighborhood is the home of baseball's historic Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox.
The Fenway neighborhood of Boston is a great place to live, work and play.
The Fenway neighborhood of Boston is a great place to live, work and play.
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A renter-heavy market caters to students and professionals

Over 90% of Fenway residents rent, and condos and apartments dominate the property blend. “The area is filled with young professionals, grad students and undergrads,” says Daniel Tully, managing broker at Symphony Properties, who owns investment properties in the neighborhood. “But most properties are studios and one-bedroom apartments or condos. It’s not a party scene. There are no four- to five-bedroom places, no frat houses. A lot of doctors have places there as pieds-à-terre.”

The Fenway neighborhood offers close-quarter living.
The Fenway neighborhood offers close-quarter living.
High-rise condos offer residents amazing views of the city.
High-rise condos offer residents amazing views of the city.
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What Fenway homebuyers can expect to spend

Fenway’s median home sale price of $625,000 is well below the citywide median. “It’s a great opportunity to get a beautiful condo for under $1,000 per square foot,” says Tully, who has 25 years of local experience. “And it’s good for investing, because you’re in the middle of, like, 20 colleges that are within walking distance, including Harvard Medical.” Sale prices start in the lower $300,000s and climb to around $3 million. Most places charge monthly HOA or condo fees, with amounts that vary depending on the cost of the unit. Places on the lower end of the pricing spectrum might charge as little as $200, while multimillion-dollar condos fetch over $3,000.

Fenway is a walkable neighborhood with public transit options

Even though the neighborhood is about 2 miles from Downtown Boston, it’s possible to get around without a car. In fact, parking can be such a pain that it’s often easier not to drive; many condo owners who do have their own cars rely on street parking, especially in older buildings. Fortunately, Fenway is exceptionally pedestrian-friendly, and public transit access is excellent. Here’s a partial list of the area’s T stations and the lines they serve:

  • Kenmore – Green
  • Ruggles – Orange and Franklin/Foxborough
  • Lansdowne – Framingham/Worcester
Longwood Medical Area, where many health care centers are located, is about a mile away, a 20- to 30-minute trip on the Green Line. Many roads are bike-friendly, and you should be able to cycle to Longwood in 10 minutes or walk there in about 25.

The Green line train is a great way to get around Boston.
The Green line train is a great way to get around Boston.
Fenway has multiple T stops to take you to different parts of the city.
Fenway has multiple T stops to take you to different parts of the city.
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Colleges and universities are spread throughout the neighborhood

As Tully points out, this area attracts a lot of students. Nearby universities include:

  • Boston University, a high-ranking research institution
  • Northeastern University, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs
  • Emmanuel College, a Catholic liberal arts and sciences college
  • Simmons University, known for its nursing and social work programs
Harvard Medical School is just outside the neighborhood, near the hospitals in Longwood.

Getting out to play in Fenway

Fenway Park is more than the home of the beloved Boston Red Sox. It also features MGM Music Hall at Fenway, a venue that seats more than 5,000 and has hosted acts ranging from Jack White to Squeeze. “If you have a deck, or a roof deck, you can listen to the games and concerts without having to buy tickets,” says Tully. House of Blues, another rocking live music venue, is on Lansdowne Street just outside Fenway Park.

Residents can walk to the centrally located Back Bay Fens, one of the jewels in Boston’s “Emerald Necklace” of parks and green spaces. The area is a patchwork of flower gardens, war memorials, playgrounds, ball fields and picnic areas. Walking paths crisscross the park, offering splendid views of the Pru and John Hancock Tower.

Ducks going for a swim in Back Bay Fens.
Ducks going for a swim in Back Bay Fens.
The Back Bay Fens are a great spot to take a stroll.
The Back Bay Fens are a great spot to take a stroll.
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Locals enjoy the food and atmosphere at the renowned Eastern Standard Kitchen and Drinks.
Locals enjoy the food and atmosphere at the renowned Eastern Standard Kitchen and Drinks.

Museums, restaurants and clubs add to the cultural scene

Between the concerts, the museums and the nightlife, Fenway offers a lively cultural scene. The collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston includes everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts to modern American art. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, modeled after a Venetian palace, would be worth a visit for the building alone, but the creative exhibitions will entice you to linger awhile.

Eastern Standard Kitchen and Drinks, one of Boston’s most iconic restaurants, serves creative cuisine and craft cocktails in an upbeat setting. Bab Al-Yemen Boston dishes up Yemeni specialties, including creamy hummus and fragrant stews. Aside from the sports bars that are packed with fans on game days, local watering holes include Wally’s Cafe Jazz Club and The Bebop, an Irish pub that hosts live music and open mic nights.

Neighborhood activity contributes to high noise levels

No one would mistake Fenway for a quiet neighborhood, but according to Tully, it’s not as loud as you might think. “It gets busy on days of concerts and Red Sox games,” he says, “but there are no apartments or condos that close to Fenway. It’s not like you’re right in the ballpark.” The quietest area is probably around the Northeastern University campus.

Adrienne Ryan
Written By
Adrienne Ryan
Anhella Sanchez
Photography Contributed By
Anhella Sanchez
Alex Finneran
Video By
Alex Finneran

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
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Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

General Edward Lawrence Logan International

14 min drive

Subway

Kenmore Station

Subway

Fenway Station

Subway

Museum Of Fine Arts Station

Subway

Boston University East Station

Subway

Blandford Street Station

Subway

Boston University Central Station

Subway

Northeastern University Station

Train

Yawkey

Bus

Commonwealth Ave & Carlton St

Bus

132 Brookline Ave Opp Fullerton St

Bus

Boylston St & Jersey St

Bus

Commonwealth Ave & University Rd

Bus

Kilmarnock St & Peterborough St

Bus

Queensberry St & Jersey St

Bus

Louis Prang St & Evans Way

Reviews

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Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Fenway US
Homicide 5 4
Sexual Assault 4 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 4 4
Burglary 3 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 3 4
Larceny 2 4
Crime Score 3 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes
2,907
Number of Homes for Sale
73
Median Year Built
1910
Months of Supply
10.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,172
Above the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,108
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
941
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
570
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
439
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
2,178

Open Houses

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Condo Buildings

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Rental Home Trends

Number of Homes for Rent
1,523
Median Rent
$3,095
Median Single Family Home Rent
$3,313
Median 4 Bedroom Single Family Home Rent
$6,650
Median Townhouse Rent
$2,645
Median 2 Bedroom Townhouse Rent
$6,000
Median Condo Rent
$3,000
Median 2 Bedroom Condo Rent
$3,800

Demographics

Total Population
38,138
Median Age
27
Population Density
89 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
5.9%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$41,359
Significantly below the national average
$79,597
Average Household Income
$70,661

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
94.7%
College Graduates
73.8%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
40.7%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
57.6%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
23°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
12''

Area Factors

Exceptionally bikeable

Bikeability®

100 / 100

Exceptionally walkable

Walkability®

100 / 100

Exceptional public transit

Transit®

90 / 100
Source: Local Logic
Sources: Local Logic

Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Fenway