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Harbor View-Orient Heights

Harbor View-Orient Heights

$817,955 Average Value
$624 Average Price per Sq Ft
33 Homes For Sale
Harbor View-Orient Heights is an East Boston neighborhood with many amenities.
Harbor View-Orient Heights is an East Boston neighborhood with many amenities.

Harbor View-Orient Heights rises from East Boston

Harbor View-Orient Heights sits atop a hill in East Boston, offering clear views of Boston Harbor and the city skyline. Its development began in the late 19th century, as islands and marshland slowly transformed into a residential community. The Belle Isle Marsh Reservation borders the neighborhood, and parks and sandy beaches line the shore, giving daily life an outdoor focus that can be hard to find in this part of the city. But with ample public transit options and Logan International Airport less than 2 miles away, residents are well connected to the rest of Boston and beyond.

A mix of salt marshes, beaches and open green space

Belle Isle Marsh Reservation spans about 350 acres along the neighborhood’s edge. Hiking paths and boardwalks crisscross the salt marsh, and visitors enjoy views of the Boston skyline from the observation tower. For more time outdoors, you can check out the following spots:

  • Constitution Beach, a sandy stretch of shoreline with calm water for swimming
  • Noyes Playground, which includes sports fields and a splash pad
  • Mary Ellen Welch Greenway, a walking and biking trail along an old railway line

Bikers love the wide paths at Constitution Beach in Harbor View-Orient Heights.
Bikers love the wide paths at Constitution Beach in Harbor View-Orient Heights.
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation has lots of hiking trails.
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation has lots of hiking trails.
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What buyers should know about the neighborhood’s housing market

Condos and apartments dominate the residential property blend, with styles ranging from classic Boston triple-deckers to contemporary condo developments. A few midcentury Cape Cods and early-1900s gable-front worker’s cottages add single-family options to the mix. “The new buildings tie in well with the existing cityscape, and everything here maintains the old, charming residential look and feel,” says Jamie Cholette, a Realtor at Boston Harbor Real Estate who’s lived and worked in the city for more than 20 years. Most residents are renters, and the median monthly rent is around $3,000. As for sales, prices generally range from the mid-$400,000s to the lower $1 millions, with a median home sale price of around $670,000. These numbers make this an affordable neighborhood by Boston standards, as the citywide median hovers around $890,000. However, homes in lower-lying or waterfront areas might require flood insurance, which can increase monthly costs.

Most residences in Harbor View-Orient Heights are condos or apartments.
Most residences in Harbor View-Orient Heights are condos or apartments.
Many triple-decker housing options exist within Harbor View-Orient Heights.
Many triple-decker housing options exist within Harbor View-Orient Heights.
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What to know about commuting and proximity to Logan Airport

Some properties include on- or off-street parking, and prices for standalone parking spots are much lower than in downtown neighborhoods like Back Bay. So owning a car isn’t as impractical here as in some parts of Boston. If you drive, Route 1A runs through the neighborhood and connects to Interstate 90 near the airport, and the 5-mile drive to Downtown Boston can take 15 to 20 minutes in lighter traffic. However, this is a moderately walkable neighborhood with good access to public transit. The Blue Line connects to several T stations for a direct line downtown, and multiple MBTA bus routes serve the area. Frequent travelers benefit from having Logan Airport right next door, but airplane noise is a part of daily life. “I try to let everyone know that only two runways are on rotation that go over residential homes in East Boston, and the airport doesn’t use the runways daily,” says Cholette. “However, if you’re concerned about hearing airport noise, then East Boston might not be the best move.”

The neighborhood has solid public transit access, including MBTA buses.
The neighborhood has solid public transit access, including MBTA buses.
The Orient Heights T station is served by the Blue Line.
The Orient Heights T station is served by the Blue Line.
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Dining options lean toward Latin American cuisine

Latin American flavors season the local dining scene. You can grab a meal at these spots:

  • Angela’s Cafe, a family-owned restaurant known for mole, chilaquiles and other Mexican specialties
  • Melodias Restaurant, serving Colombian cuisine in a warm, casual atmosphere
  • Rincon Limeño, an informal Peruvian eatery known for its ceviche
  • Taquería Jalisco, the place to go for Mexican street food
  • Luna’s Italian & Latin Cuisine, a fusion restaurant and bar
Everyday essentials are available at The Shops at Suffolk Downs shopping plaza. Here, you’ll find chain retailers like Target and Famous Footwear, along with groceries at Stop & Shop.

Angela's Cafe is one of several popular restaurants in the neighborhood.
Angela's Cafe is one of several popular restaurants in the neighborhood.
Melodias Restaurant serves Colombian cuisine in a warm atmosphere.
Melodias Restaurant serves Colombian cuisine in a warm atmosphere.
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Bradley Elementary is a highly rated public school.
Bradley Elementary is a highly rated public school.

Boston Public Schools options in Harbor View-Orient Heights

Boston Public Schools serves local students, using a choice-based assignment system for prekindergarten through eighth grade. Local options include Curtis Guild Elementary School, with a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1, and the highly rated Bradley Elementary School, which offers choral music and Spanish language classes for students in upper grades.

Comparing the neighborhood to the rest of East Boston

How does Harbor View-Orient Heights compare to the rest of East Boston? Eagle Hill, the next neighborhood over, has a more urban vibe and a broader dining scene. The median home sale price is slightly lower, too. Conversely, prices are slightly higher in Jeffries Point, though still not as high as what you’d spend in the downtown area. Jeffries Point also has some newer housing developments and great dining choices, including a few seasonal waterfront spots. But since it's right next to the airport, noise from planes can be more noticeable in some areas.

Adrienne Ryan
Written By
Adrienne Ryan
Noel Poage
Photography Contributed By
Noel Poage
Jacob Cooperman
Video By
Jacob Cooperman

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
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

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

General Edward Lawrence Logan International

8 min drive

Subway

Orient Heights Station

Subway

Suffolk Downs Station

Bus

Bennington St & Byron St

Bus

Waldemar Ave & Mcclellan HWY

Bus

560 Winthrop Ave

Bus

Bennington St & Neptune Rd

Bus

Burbank HWY & Furlong Dr

Bus

Orient Ave Opp Beachview Rd

Bus

Orient Ave & Faywood Ave

Reviews

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Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Harbor View-Orient Heights US
Homicide 5 4
Sexual Assault 4 4
Assault with Weapon 5 4
Robbery 4 4
Burglary 3 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 3 4
Larceny 3 4
Crime Score 3 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes
1,683
Number of Homes for Sale
33
Median Year Built
1928
Months of Supply
4.80
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,639
Below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,635
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,044
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
704
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
4,356

Open Houses

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Rental Home Trends

Number of Homes for Rent
81
Median Rent
$3,100
Median Single Family Home Rent
$3,450
Median 4 Bedroom Single Family Home Rent
$4,450
Median Townhouse Rent
$3,500
Median 2 Bedroom Townhouse Rent
$3,300
Median Condo Rent
$3,000
Median 2 Bedroom Condo Rent
$2,995

Demographics

Total Population
10,887
Median Age
38
Population Density
10 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$65,477
Below the national average
$79,597
Average Household Income
$93,614

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
79.7%
Below the national average
89%
College Graduates
25.3%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
7.9%
% Population in Labor Force
73.6%

Weather

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

Area Factors

Fairly bikeable

Bikeability®

50 / 100

Moderately walkable

Walkability®

60 / 100

Good public transit

Transit®

60 / 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
Harbor View-Orient Heights