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Boston Neighborhood Comparisons
Side-by-side data to help you choose where to live
🔥 Most Searched Comparisons
🏛️ Downtown & Historic Neighborhoods
🎓 Student Areas
Boston is America's #1 college city. These neighborhoods are heavily impacted by student renters.
🏠 South Boston & Dorchester
👨👩👧👦 Family-Friendly Neighborhoods
⚓ Waterfront Neighborhoods
Note: East Boston and Seaport have higher sea level rise risk. Check our climate risk data.
🚇 Cross-Area Comparisons
How We Compare Neighborhoods
StreetSmart's neighborhood comparisons use real data from >183,000 Boston buildings to help you make informed decisions. Unlike other sites that rely on subjective opinions, we analyze:
- Average Building Score: Overall quality based on violations, complaints, and maintenance
- Violation Rates: How many buildings have open RentSmart violations
- Heat Violation History: Critical for Boston's brutal winters (68°F required by law)
- Building Age: Pre-war vs modern construction mix
- Pest Issues: Rodent, roach, and bedbug violation rates
🥶 Boston Winter Warning
Heat violations in our scoring are weighted 25% higher than other cities. Boston landlords must maintain 68°F daytime / 64°F nighttime from October 1 to May 31. A building with recurring heat failures can be genuinely dangerous during New England winters.