$761,212Average Value$376Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
A neighborhood overflowing with Boston history
Fort Hill’s residents live surrounded by history. Recognized as an architectural conservation district and occasionally called Highland Park, its historical significance extends to its parks and monuments. Terrance Moreau, a real estate salesperson and the team leader of the Roxbury Collaborative Group at Coldwell Banker, says Fort Hill is a nice merge between Jamaica Plain and Roxbury. “The green space and historic homes are really what gets people’s attention,” he says. “The appeal is that it’s one of the older communities of Roxbury. There are areas and homes within that neighborhood that were built prior to Roxbury becoming a part of Boston.”
This history brings more visitors to the area, but having fewer businesses keeps it relatively quiet. History also impacts the present day, adding to Fort Hill’s vibrancy. “You have a mix of people, from people who have been there for several generations to young families just moving in,” Moreau says, adding that new development continues to bring “a really nice mix of people to the neighborhood.” The walkable little neighborhood has a distinct sense of community. “I would say the majority of the people up there know each other,” says Robert Nichols, a real estate broker at MIG Realty Group who has sold homes there for 15 years. “They talk. It does have a bit of a friendly vibe. It is urban, but it’s just set up for more of a community feel.”
Fort Hill residents have access to the Roxbury Crossing station.
Fort Hill has a historical church right in front of Roxbury Heritage Park.
1/2
Playing at Marcella Park, pocket parks and historic landmarks
“In general, Roxbury is known for having so many parks,” Moreau says. “I think Highland Park has a great density of those parks.” Marcella Park is popular for its large playground, basketball courts, tennis court and athletic fields. Pocket parks like Lambert Avenue Playground are scattered throughout the neighborhood, ensuring that residents are always just a short walk away from the nearest green space. Roxbury Heritage State Park is one of many historic spaces in Fort Hill. Home to the Dillaway-Thomas House, which was the Continental Army headquarters in 1775, it’s more museum than park. The neighborhood’s most famous landmark, Fort Hill Tower, is the highest point in Roxbury and is located on the site of a 1775 Colonial Army fort. Just outside the neighborhood, Malcolm X Park also offers a large playground and athletic courts alongside an outdoor pool and a recreation center with indoor athletic courts.
Enjoy a stroll through Thomas House in Roxbury Heritage State Park in Fort Hill.
Highland Park in Fort Hill offers walking trials with views of the city.
1/2
Dining and shopping along Highland Park's edges
Fort Hill is largely residential, but it still has a few popular spots to sit down for a meal — or to snag one to go. Like many other treasured community spots here, Fort Hill Bar & Grill has a long history. In this case, the local Caribbean eatery’s history dates to the 1920s, and its familiarity and cozy atmosphere keep it popular today. Ashur serves halal and Somali cuisine. Just outside Fort Hill, there’s a collection of restaurants around the intersection of Malcolm X Boulevard and Washington Street, including Silver Slipper Restaurant for Southern-style breakfasts and Fasika Café for Ethiopian food. According to Nichols, many locals walk to Dudley Café for its food and its creative vibe. “They feature a lot of local artists in there. They feature their work,” he says, adding that art hangs on the walls and local musicians often play there. “They cater to local artists and performers.”
Nubian Markets is a newer spot that offers grocery items alongside hot and ready food. “The cooked food that they sell there is exceptional,” Moreau says. Nearby, Marcella’s Market is another small local grocer, but for a larger grocery store, Price Rite is just outside the neighborhood.
Fasika Cafe in Fort Hill offers Ethiopian cuisine and coffee's.
Nubian Markets in Fort Hill has all your everyday groceries and also offer dining options.
1/2
Learning and connecting at the Culture Festival
The Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center is the largest masjid in all of Massachusetts, making it a pillar of life for many living in and around Fort Hill. The masjid hosts an annual Culture Festival, which features tables representing over two dozen countries where locals can try their hands at crafts, learn about cultural customs and taste food from around the world. Just over 2 miles away, Franklin Park hosts frequent events, including a yearly Caribbean Festival. Celebrations kick off at 6:00 a.m. and feature dancing, music, an afternoon parade and plenty of food. “There are a lot people who go out and enjoy that as part of their Boston experience,” Nichols says.
Condos, historic rowhouses, brownstones and single-family homes
“The way that I look at Roxbury, and this is a broad stroke for Highland Park as well, we are one of the closest neighborhoods to the center of Boston where you can find detached houses with yards and parking, which I think says a lot about the overall appeal,” Moreau says. Single-family homes aren’t incredibly common here, but they start at $700,000 for a fixer-upper and can climb to $2 million. Rowhouses and condominiums are more common. Cedar Street’s marble row houses, built in 1871 in Second Empire Style, are stunning three-story buildings that can fetch between $300,000 and $500,000 per unit. Boston Brownstones from the late 1800s and converted colonial properties make up a large portion of Morley Street and Highland Avenue. Most condos cost between $300,000 and $800,000, but some can go for as much as $1 million.
According to Nichols, people really value Fort Hill’s historic homes, and the neighborhood’s most expensive properties usually have unique features. “It’s not uncommon to see 12-to-15-foot ceilings on the main level,” he says. “A lot of original wainscoting, oversized stairwells with expansive views, sometimes to the top of the building. There’s some really uniquely designed properties from that era, and they’ve maintained them well.” Higher price points can also net homebuyers small yards or patios to entertain on and a parking spot — features that lower price points usually lack. “I’d say that it’s probably the best value in the city,” Nichols says. “If you’re looking for historic homes that are in great condition, that are very convenient to downtown Boston but you’re not paying a South End price point, it’s very similar to the South End without paying a South End price point. It’s kind of like a hidden gem.”
Homes in Fort Hill include brownstone townhomes with street parking.
Homes in Fort Hill include multifamily homes with shared yards and driveways.
1/2
Easy commutes with Route 28, Roxbury Crossing Station
Columbus Avenue runs alongside Fort Hill, so it’s easy to hop on the major road. Bus stops run on its bigger streets, including Washington Street, Centre Street and Malcolm X Boulevard, and the closest T station is Roxbury Crossing Station, just at the bottom of the hill. The orange line runs through the station, taking commuters to South Station in just 20 minutes. There are four hospitals less than 2 miles from home: Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, New England Baptist Hospital and Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center. Boston Logan International Airport is less than 7 miles away.
Trains passing by in Roxbury Crossing Train station in Fort Hill
You can find many residents of Fort Hill walking, biking or using the MBTA.
1/2
Lottery system and exams to enter O’Bryant School of Math and Science
Boston Public Schools gets a B from Niche. Children in Fort Hill can attend Nathan Hale Elementary School from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Niche also gives this school a B and lists it among the top 15 public elementary schools in Suffolk County. The school partners with CitySprouts to teach children about food and the environment through hands-on lessons in its garden. Children who enter the lottery or pass enrollment exams can then attend the A-rated O’Bryant School of Math and Science, one of Boston’s three exam schools, from seventh through 12th grade. Roxbury Community College is also located right in the neighborhood. The college, which has 24 associate degree programs, was recognized as a Predominantly Black Institution by the Department of Education in 2021; it’s the only community college in the northeast to earn the distinction.
James P Timilty Middle School in Roxbury, MA.
Students in Fort Hill have access to the Roxbury Community College campus.
1/2
Boston history on every corner
John Elliot Square, which is home to the First Church of Roxbury, was designated as a historic and cultural district. The church is Boston’s oldest surviving wooden meeting house and the sixth church built by early English settlers; though it’s been rebuilt four times, it dates back to 1632. Fort Hill is home to several other historic buildings, including the Greek-Revival style Alvah Kittredge House, once home to a prominent Boston real estate developer, which was fully restored and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Nearby, the Spooner-Lambert House was built in 1782, making it the third-oldest building in Roxbury.
The First Church of Roxbury in Fort Hill has been around since 1632.
Spooner Lambert House in Fort Hill is the third oldest building in Roxbury built in 1782.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
ZhiChao Chen,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Marcella/Connolly Park
Highland Park
Clarence "Jeep" Jones Park
Southwest Corridor Park
Basketball
Bike Trails
Tennis
Alvah Kittredge Park
Gibbons Playground
Lambert Avenue Playground
Roxbury Heritage State Park
Margaret Wright Memorial Garden
Transit
Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International
13 min drive
Subway
Roxbury Crossing Station
Bus
42A John Eliot Sq
Bus
Columbus Ave & Heath St
Bus
Centre St & Cedar St
Bus
Columbus Ave & New Cedar St
Bus
Washington St & Marcella St
Bus
Washington St & Bartlett St
Bus
Washington St & Oakland St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Fort Hill
US
Homicide
6
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Fort Hill Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Fort Hill, Boston sell after 19 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Fort Hill, Boston over the last 12 months is $434,900, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
The property is a 1.98 acre undeveloped land parcel in the Fort Hill area of Boston, MA. Vale Street presents a rarely available opportunity for a developer or owner/user to develop a large scale housing or commercial project in a growing area of the city. The parcel is well located just a 5-minute walk from the Orange Line MBTA station and major thoroughfares such as Columbus Avenue. The parcel
With sweeping city views from nearly every level, this 2020-built townhouse—crafted to Passive House standard and net zero–ready—offers elevated living in one of Fort Hill’s most thoughtfully designed homes. Built by Placetailor, it features 14" double-insulated walls, triple-pane windows, and filtered fresh air for year-round comfort and near-silent serenity. The open layout blends clean modern
Incredible value for this 2Bed 1Bath located in Fort Hill/Roxbury Crossing. Great opportunity for the first-time buyer or investor seeking sound Return-On-Investment. This 1st floor, corner exposure unit is bright & airy, w/high ceilings, lots of windows, & hardwood floors throughout. Boasting a spacious/open floor plan great for entertaining. The open layout features a large/sunny, front-facing
Available September 1st!!! This Cozy 3 Bedroom 1 Bath Has ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED and is Placed on the Second Floor of a Quiet Three-Family Residence at the Foot of Roxbury's Fort Hill Neighborhood. The Unit's Eat-in Kitchen is Laid with Natural Hardwood Floors and Comes Equipped with a Gas Stove Plus Refrigerator. A Ceramic-Tiled Bathroom Offers a Conventional Tub with Shower Head and Sits Next
Come see this spacious newly renovated four bedroom, two full bath apartment, including eat-in kitchen, full dining room and living room,hardwood floors, high ceilings as well as a beautiful private back deck and the best part for city living is two off street parking spaces! This unit is conveniently located 5 minutes from Jackson Sq. T Station as well as a 2 minute walk to the bus stop. Can't
This nice 2 Bed 1 Bath place in the BOSTON - FORT HILL area is available for 09-01-2025. Included Features are: Patio, and Laundry in Unit.Boston Pads is not responsible for any errors, omissions and change in price, prior sale, rent and withdrawal without notice. All information from sources reliable but not guaranteed. Photographs, videos, description and information about the
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
ZhiChao Chen,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
5,919
Median Age
35
Population Density
30 ppl/acre
Population under 18
21.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$45,568
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$75,322
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
87.1%
College Graduates
39.3%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
15.1%
% Population in Labor Force
62.4%
On par with the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
23°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
12''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
65/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
69/ 100
Excellent Transit
Transit Score®
76/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
