MBTA Proximity
Walking distance to 135 T stations
Student Zone Alerts
16 universities tracked
Winter Ready
Heat violations weighted 25% higher
Best Buildings by Area
Downtown & Back Bay
20,000+ buildings
South Boston & Seaport
15,000+ buildings
Fenway & Mission Hill
12,000+ buildings
Jamaica Plain & Roxbury
30,000+ buildings
Dorchester & Mattapan
40,000+ buildings
Popular Neighborhoods
Back Bay
Downtown
South End
Downtown
Beacon Hill
Downtown
Fenway
Fenway
Allston
Allston-Brighton
Brighton
Allston-Brighton
Jamaica Plain
JP
South Boston
Southie
Charlestown
Charlestown
East Boston
Eastie
Dorchester
Dot
Mission Hill
Mission Hill
North End
Downtown
Seaport
Waterfront
Roxbury
Roxbury
West Roxbury
West Roxbury
Roslindale
Roslindale
Mattapan
Mattapan
How We Rank the Best Buildings in Boston
StreetSmart analyzes every residential building in Boston using 16 different data points to determine building quality. Our rankings are based on objective Boston public data including RentSmart violations, 311 complaints, safety records, heat issues, and pest complaints.
Buildings with an A-rating (90+ score) have demonstrated excellent maintenance, responsive landlords, minimal violations, and safe living conditions. These are the buildings where tenants have the best experience based on verifiable data, not just marketing.
What Makes a Building "Top Rated" in Boston?
- Zero or minimal open violations - No outstanding RentSmart complaints
- No heat issues - Critical for Boston's brutal winters (48" annual snowfall)
- Clean pest records - No rodent or pest violations
- Good maintenance history - Consistent upkeep over time
- Responsive landlords - Repairs addressed promptly
Data Sources
Our rankings are built from over 170,000 Boston building records including RentSmart violations, 311 service requests, property assessments, and crime data. Data is updated regularly to ensure accuracy.