$834,167Average Value$548Average Price per Sq Ft0Homes For Sale
A centuries-old community in Dorchester
Meeting House Hill may seem like an ordinary Dorchester neighborhood at first glance, but a closer look reveals a cultural tapestry, entwined with a rich history. Puritans arrived here in the early 17th century and built a community centered around the First Parish Church, one of the country’s first houses of worship. A few years later in 1639, the Mather School was founded, serving as North America’s first free public school. Today, both of these landmarks still operate, while new amenities have added to the area’s appeal as a commuter city, just under 5 miles from downtown Boston. “The location is so convenient with two Red Line T stations, bus options and beautiful views of the ocean from the top of Ronan Park,” says Realtor Marlea Mesh with Coldwell Banker, who has 29 years of experience selling in the area. The neighborhood has substantial Vietnamese influence, as well, with authentic eateries and events adding to Dorchester’s diversity. While history is a major piece of Meeting House Hill’s identity, the community is driven toward the future and focused on growth and inclusivity.
Meeting House Hill sits just a few miles from downtown Boston.
Take in the view at Ronan Park from the top of Meeting House Hill.
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The beach, the zoo and outdoor recreation within a couple miles
Ronan Park rests in the center of the neighborhood at the highest point of elevation in Dorchester. Visitors can enjoy the splash pad, dog park, playground or baseball and basketball facilities, with views of the Dorchester Bay Basin in the distance. Locals can drive about 2 miles to access the water at the Dorchester Yacht Club or the Savin Hill and Malibu beaches. Right outside of the historic First Parish Church of Dorchester lies the Meetinghouse Hill Churchyard and Allen Park, which features plots of grass with walking paths and benches, shaded by towering maples. The Dorchester Soldiers’ Monument is also situated within the park, honoring the city’s Civil War heroes. About 2 miles east, Franklin Park, the work of famous architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, is Greater Boston’s largest outdoor gathering space. The park has a golf course, the White Stadium, used by professional and local athletes, trails, playgrounds and picnic areas. Most notably, it’s home to the Franklin Park Zoo, which spotlights hundreds of wildlife species, from lions to zebras. The zoo also hosts Boston Lights, a bright, artistic display of Asian culture through lanterns. Visitors may walk through tunnels in the shape of ancient dragons or admire lanterns of Chinese Kun fish, exotic animals and Indian lotus-flowers.
Malibu Beach is a great spot for Meeting House Hill residents to cool off.
Residents enjoy playing games on the field at Ronan Park in Meeting House Hill.
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Celebrating culture and community in Dorchester
With a calendar full of events, Dorchester brings in thousands of visitors each year. The Dorchester Day Parade, known locally as Dot Day, each June has been a community tradition since the early 20th century. The celebration features a procession of floats and marching bands, as well as the 5K Road Race. Additionally, restaurants will offer on-theme menu items and activities, like live music, photo booths and post-parade parties. The newer Dorchfest event brings people together through different genres of music, performed by dozens of local professionals. The neighborhood transforms into an open-air concert venue, where the porches and front lawns of participating residences serve as the musicians’ stage. Other special occasions include gathering for Boston’s Fourth of July firework display at Ronan Park and Fields Corner’s Little Saigon Night Market, which celebrates Vietnamese American culture through authentic food and live music in a Southeast Asian bazaar-inspired festival. Popular event venues include The First Parish Church for cookouts and community service projects, as well as the Strand Theatre, a performing arts and concert space.
Joining a grocery co-op and indulging in a medley of local cuisines
With Target and Price Rite available right along the southern edge of the neighborhood, residents don’t have to venture far to shop. The new Dorchester Food Co-op offers a unique grocery experience, as well. By purchasing a $100 share, shoppers become members and partial owners of the company, whose mission is to provide healthy food options to Boston communities. With a membership comes a monthly discount and an influence on the company’s leadership elections. Dorchester Avenue and Bowdoin Street have the majority of restaurants in the neighborhood, with spots like Pho Le and Pho Hoa for authentic Vietnamese or Restaurante Cesaria for Cape Verdean cuisine. Local bakery and café, home.stead, is a popular bagel, pastry and coffee shop that many remote workers use as a makeshift office. The café also hosts community events, including art shows and story-telling sessions. The Harp and Bard has been a mainstay in the area since the 1960s, and dbar turns into an LGBTQ+-friendly nightlife spot, open until 2 a.m. on the weekends.
Meeting House Hill residents can pick up groceries at the local Dorchester Food Co-op.
Enjoy a delicious bowl of noodle soup at Pho Le in Meeting House Hill.
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Classic Boston triple-deckers in Meeting House Hill
The housing market in the neighborhood primarily consists of multifamily homes and triple-decker properties. Much of Dorchester’s architecture has Queen Anne influences, like ornate detailing and protruding windows. Oftentimes, triple-deckers feature three stacked balconies, providing each unit with a private outdoor space, encompassed by porch balusters. Two-to-four-bedroom units often sell in the $500,000 to $600,000 range, while one-bedroom condos are available in the $200,000s. “There is a good variety of property available, and it’s still possible for a first-time buyer to get a foot in the door here,” Mesh says. Full multifamily homes can be purchased for around $700,000 to about $1.5 million, depending on size. Although rare, buyers may find a few single-family options in the neighborhood, with three-to-five-bedroom New Englanders or Cape Cods falling in the $600,000 to $700,000 range. Some properties have private driveways or garages, helping to reduce overcrowding of cars along the narrow roads. “Some streets have resident permit parking only, so you have to really watch the signage on that, as well as on street cleaning days,” Mesh says.
The streets of Meeting House Hill evoke the most classic images of Boston.
Single family homes with Mansard Roofs can be found sprinkled throughout Meeting House Hill.
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Public school options near Meeting House Hill
Families in Meeting House Hill have school choice within the Boston School District and are not under strict zoning rules. Options within the neighborhood include the historic Mather School, which earns a C-plus on Niche. Sixth through eighth graders can attend UP Academy Dorchester, which scores a C-minus. The UP Education Network transforms struggling Massachusetts schools into competitive, improved facilities, available to students with economical disadvantages. Formerly known as the Burke School, Albert D. Holland High School of Technology has a C-plus. Students here have a variety of opportunities to collaborate with nearby colleges, like University of Massachusetts Boston, about 2 miles away, for dual enrollment. The school also offers numerous Advanced Placement courses and a variety of after-school programs in the arts, athletics and sciences.
The Mather School is the oldest public elementary school in North America located in Dorchester.
UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester is a public, charter school located in Dorchester, MA.
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Getting around Meeting House Hill and Greater Boston
Meeting House Hill’s central location between two Red Line T stations, Savin Hill and Fields Corner, attracts commuters working in Boston. Interstate 93 also flows nearby, though it often yields some traffic. As Mesh says, “It’s the city, so it can be busy and congested at times, but that’s part of the charm, no?” The neighborhood is very walkable, with sidewalks lining most roads. Bike lanes are also common, and at the Fields Corner T stop or off Bowdoin Street, folks can rent a Bluebike and drop it back off at any of the city’s docking stations. “It’s a bit scary to bike on the main drag, like Dorchester Avenue, but definitely navigable on the side streets,” Mesh says. Flights take off from Boston Logan International Airport, about 6 miles northeast.
Savin Hill station is also easily accessible for Meeting House Hill residents
Fields Corner Station is easily accessible to Meeting House Hill residents.
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
Vicky Xiao,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Ronan Park
Tebroc Playground
Transit
Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International
14 min drive
Bus
Geneva Ave & Levant St
Bus
Bowdoin St Opp Elba Terr
Bus
Dorchester Ave & Kimball St
Bus
Bowdoin St & Olney St
Bus
Bowdoin St & Hamilton St
Bus
Dorchester Ave & Linden St
Bus
Dorchester Ave & Adams St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Meeting House Hill
US
Homicide
5
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Meeting House Hill Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Meeting House Hill, Boston sell after 146 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Meeting House Hill, Boston over the last 12 months is $1,590,000, up 478% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
New price! A terrific opportunity awaits the next owner of this home! This modern, move-in ready condominium checks all of the boxes and comes with an opportunity to add a huge amount of equity by finishing the exclusive use attic into a 4th bedroom and 3rd bathroom or just more living space. Enter into an open concept floor plan featuring a spacious living room with gas fireplace. The kitchen
Welcome to Topliff Street – a beautifully gut-renovated (2012) multi-family home located in the heart of Dorchester, perfect for both owner-occupants and savvy investors. This exceptional property showcases quality updates throughout, including a young architectural roof, three high-efficiency Navien combo heating systems, updated electrical, vinyl siding, newer replacement windows, and full
Exceptional value! Tucked off the street, 40 Linden St #C is a rare opportunity to own a spacious, thoughtfully updated 4-bedroom home in the city. The open-concept main level offers a sun-filled living area and renovated eat-in kitchen with new appliances and refinished cabinetry, leading to a private deck and fenced-in patio with deeded parking. Two bedrooms and a full bath complete the first
Freshly-Painted Second Floor 3 Bedroom 1 Bath with Separate Dining Room is Now Available for Immediate Occupancy!! A Large Rear-Facing Kitchen Offers Multiple Maple Cabinets, Pantry, Refrigerator, Plus Gas Stove. Spacious and Cable-Ready Bedrooms Offer Good Closets Including a Front-Facing Bedroom Suite with Exclusive Porch. In-Unit Laundry Hook-Ups are Available and Hardwood Floors are
Well-maintained home with a spacious interior layout provides comfort and peace on two levels of living. The first floor features a dining room with an electric wall unit fireplace, living room, one bedroom and a bonus room, eat-in kitchen with range, refrigerator, washer/dryer, balconies, front and back. There are two good size bedrooms with ample closet space on the second level. Beautiful
Enjoy Two Levels of Living in This Freshly-Painted, Renovated 3 Bedroom 1 Bathroom in a Charming South Dorchester Two-Family with Pride of Ownership!! The Main First Floor Level Features a Vinyl Floor, Modern Kitchen with Granite-Counters, Ample White-Shaker Cabinets with Slow-Close Drawers, and Brand-New Stainless Steel GE Gas Stove Plus Refrigerator, as Well as a Primary Bedroom w/Walk-in,
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Vicky Xiao,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
7,188
Median Age
36
Population under 18
26%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$58,391
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$81,812
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
75.1%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
22.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
10.3%
% Population in Labor Force
73.5%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
23°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
12''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
48/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
84/ 100
Excellent Transit
Transit Score®
71/ 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.
