Located just five miles from the constantly-busy downtown areas of Boston, many would expect the atmosphere to be similar. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Neighborhood Nine is a quiet neighborhood with streets lined with beautiful trees and single family homes. The homes in the neighborhood are beautiful and old, which helps contribute to the beauty and atmosphere you experience in the neighborhood.
The type of people that live here varies greatly both in terms of lifestyles and ethnic background. Due to the close proximity to Boston, a lot of business professionals call the area home. Many students also live in the neighborhood because it is so close to Harvard. In addition, a large number of families live in the area as it's laid-back nature compared to the rest of Boston. No matter what kind of person you are or what you are looking for in a neighborhood to rent in, this diverse and brilliant neighborhood likely has something for you.
Neighborhood Nine began as a part of the neighborhood of Cambridge. However, over time, it gradually began to develop on its own as industry crept into Cambridge. By the early 1900s, impressive homes began to pop up and in the early 20th century, Radcliff College decided to build a campus here. The creation of this college campus is why this neighborhood used to be known as "Radcliffe." Since then, Neighborhood Nine has developed into one of the best neighborhoods in the state, with a quiet and safe reputation, many cool shops and only minutes from downtown Boston.
Being that Neighborhood Nine is known as a popular and prestigious neighborhood, the housing prices can be fairly expensive. In fact, the average rent for a one bedroom is over $2200, which is higher than the average in Boston. Overall, the cost of living in Neighborhood Nine is a fair bit higher than the state average, with the cost of housing being nearly double the state average. But the location, amenities, and vibe that the neighborhood presents is definitely worth the costs if you decide to rent here.
The quiet and calm streets in this neighborhood are fantastic for both walking and biking if that is your preferred method of transportation. However, if that isn’t your style, there is great public transportation in the area that can get you all across Boston with ease. There are various train and bus routes that depart from the neighborhood and hailing a cab if need be can also be very easy. And drivers will enjoy a simple and relatively quick commute into the heart of downtown Boston, which is a major selling point of this neighborhood. Parking can be a bit of an annoyance in the relatively small neighborhood, but resident-only spaces are a godsend and there are several private garages in the area as well.
- Harvard University
- Tufts University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- With the neighborhood being so close to the prestigious Harvard University, you should definitely check the campus out. It is a gorgeous place to be and is home to some of the brightest minds on the planet.
- The American Repertory Theater is a great place to go to enjoy some of the best live theater in the state, showing both classics and new works.
- Annually, around springtime, the Mayfair festival takes place in Harvard Square. Thousands of people come to the event to see the art, live acts and taste the food.
- Both Harvard Square and Porter Square offer enough cool shops and storefront to spend a day shopping for a variety of different things.
- There are a ton of parks in the neighborhood, including the 50 acre Danehy Park which has a ton of green space, sports fields and more.
