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Boston, MA - Suffolk County   
Population: 589,141
Population density: 13,488 people per sq. mile
Boston is an historic city of contrasts. Ancient red-brick sidewalks twist past handsome Federalist houses on the way to soaring glass towers housing state-of-the-art technology. The sports teams are the best loved and the most hated at one and the same time. Residents are fiercely protective of their neighborhoods and fiercely critical of the MBTA, the government and the weather. In the harbors of Boston lie both the majestic U.S.S. Constitution, still commissioned to fight America's battles, and scores of sleek white fiberglass pleasure boats. There are tiny restaurants tucked into rosy brick town houses on Beacon Hill and huge restaurants on the dizzying tops of skyscrapers in the downtown. Food ranges from the most radical of nouvelle chic to down-home Cajun. Boston is a diverse modern city of neighborhoods. From the North End to Bay Village, Back Bay to the South End, Jamaica Plain to Charlestown, the city shows its diversity of populations, of languages, of foods and philosophies. Immigrants from every corner of the globe have been welcomed by the city and re-shaped into Americans whose memories and customs enrich the community. Boston is a city where politics is everyone's hobby but sports are taken very seriously; where you can hear six different languages in Filene's Basement in one morning; where the world's largest record store and the stately dome of the Mother Church of Christian Science are in the same neighborhood, and where gilded stone lions and a towering 60-story wedge of glass comfortably rub shoulders.
Each neighborhood in Boston has it's own charm and distinct flavor that is highlighted by the people living there. This is a simple description of the neighborhoods of Boston that I service. There might be some surprises here because many believe that some of these neighborhoods are their own independent towns, however this is not the case. Every single one of these neighborhoods is a facet of the City of Boston: (We'll be adding more pictures soon)
ALLSTON 
Once home to stockyards, slaughterhouses and meatpacking industries, Allston today is a thriving mecca of activity. Largely populated by students and young families, Allston caters to the individual looking for something different-and cheap. It's hard to turn a corner in this neighborhood without running into a discount furniture or thrift store. Allston's Harvard Ave. boasts everything from upscale eateries and pool halls to local dives and mom-and-pop grocery stores. There's rarely a quiet moment in this neighborhood-everyone from students to the elderly traverse the streets of Allston through all hours of the day and night.
BRIGHTON
Brighton, like neighboring Allston, was home to agricultural plots and stockyards in post-colonial days. The extension of street car lines in the 1800s, however, encouraged residential growth, and soon houses and apartments were built across the neighborhood. Unlike Allston today, Brighton is fairly quiet, especially at night. The neighborhood, which is primarily populated by graduate students, young professionals and families, consists of an intricate network of streets lined with houses and small apartment buildings. Local family businesses mix with national chains of pharmacies and banks along Brighton's main drag, Washington St, which runs straight through Brighton Center to Oak Square.
BACK BAY
The Back Bay, once a stagnant pool of water behind the Public Garden, now holds some of the most exclusive real estate in Boston. A stroll down Newbury St. will take you from high fashion to hip ice cream parlors, and a walk back up Commonwealth Ave. will let you take in some of the most elegant townhouses in the city. With its rows of historic homes and a vibrant commercial district to boot, Back Bay is an elegant and exciting place to live.
BEACON HILL
The beacon on this hill that was used to warn settlers about foreign invasions is long gone, and today Beacon Hill is a close-knit community in a downtown location. The neighborhood's cobblestone streets and brick rowhouses directly border the Boston Common and the Public Garden, American's first botanical garden. The gold leaf of the State House Rotunda adorns the hill and shines across the Common. A great place for families, this historic neighborhood is a blend of classic Boston architecture and expansive green space.
CHARLESTOWN
The traditional home of employees at the now-decommissioned Navy Yard, Charlestown has experienced a shift in its population and industry. The Navy Yard, a national historic landmark, has been converted to residential and office space, and an increasing number of young professionals are joining the families who have lived in the area for years. These newcomers are discovering Charlestown's renovated rowhouses and its accessibility to downtown Boston and the North End. Many residents walk to work in downtown or simply down to the nearby waterfront, both of which are only five minutes away.
CHINATOWN
Chinatown may have been built on a landfill, but you'd never know it while walking around this neighborhood. What identifies this area of the city is the truly mixed uses of land. Residential properties co-exist with family owned and operated businesses, local institutions and, of course, some of the best Chinese restaurants in the country. With four community murals and old ads still adorning the sides of brick buildings, a walk through Chinatown is a cultural and historical journey through the past. Chinatown is also unique in how accessible it is to residents and visitors alike with several nearby MBTA stations and major roadways.
DORCHESTER
Dorchester is Boston’s largest neighborhood and also its oldest, founded a few months before the city itself. The neighborhood’s historical diversity is exhibited in its architecture, from the old Victorian homes of wealthy Bostonians to the multi-family dwellings of later groups of immigrants. Today, Dorchester retains its diversity. Its main thoroughfare, Dorchester Avenue, connects many close-knit neighborhoods and thriving commercial districts of all kinds. Dorchester is also home to the University of Massachusetts at Boston and the John F. Kennedy Library.
DOWNTOWN
Downtown is really the heart of the city. Many companies and agencies have their headquarters in the area, and City Hall and the State House are also located here. The area comes alive each weekday around noontime as thousands of corporate business folks and other downtown employees break for lunch and do some quick shopping or run errands.
EAST BOSTON
A lot of neighborhoods claim to be diverse, but East Boston is the real deal. East Boston has always been a neighborhood of immigrants and in recent years it has become home to people from all over South and Central America as well as South East Asia, Haiti and Eastern Europe. Though it is well known as home to the airport, East Boston is full of wonderful stores and restaurants representing its different ethnic groups. Long-time Italian restaurants stand next to Brazilian cafes. Its housing is a mix of historic and new, with many three deckers lining its streets. In recent years, homeowners have been restoring the historic homes of the area to their former glory.
FENWAY/KENMORE
The Fenway, perhaps best known as the home for the “boys of summer,” (The Boston Red Sox) is more than just a ballpark. It is actually a dense urban neighborhood with a considerable amount of green space (the “Fens”). Although the Fenway consists of a large number of college students, it also contains a significant population of professionals, young and old. The famous (or infamous) Landsdowne Street, bordering the Mass Pike on the North and Fenway Park on the South, is home to many of Boston’s most popular clubs and watering holes. If you travel the street, however, keep your eyes open for the occasional home run ball that clears the green monster.
HYDE PARK
Hyde Park is a true merger of city life and suburban life. Hyde Park prides itself on its tremendous amount of useful, open space including the George Wright Golf Course, but it also retains the City’s character in its people and community institutions. Hyde Park is also the place Boston Mayor Thomas Menino calls home.
JAMAICA PLAIN
Yes, Jamaica Plain is a part of the City of Boston; no, it is not its own town. Diversity is the strength of “JP,” to which it is lovingly referred by residents. Every ethnicity, socio-economic stratum, and sexual orientation is well represented in this neighborhood sandwiched primarily between Roxbury and Brookline (Brookline is its own town). The rich diversity in JP has created a strong character of social awareness and tolerance among neighbors and residents.
MATTAPAN
Mattapan was annexed to Boston in 1870 as part of Dorchester. Like other neighborhoods of the time, Mattapan developed as the railroads and streetcars made downtown Boston accessible. Predominately residential, Mattapan is home to a mix of single homes as well as two and three family houses. Mattapan Square, where Blue Hill Avenue, River Street, and Cummins Highway meet, is the commercial heart of the neighborhood.
NORTH END
How many other big cities can boast having a neighborhood where residents walk the streets, visiting local fruit stores, butcher shops and corner markets for their groceries? The North End is most famous for its plethora of Italian restaurants and strong ties to Italian roots. With a different Italian Festival every weekend throughout the summer, there rarely is a dull moment in the North End. Need another selling point? The North End is considered one of the safest neighborhoods in Boston.
ROSLINDALE
Roslindale, sometimes referred to as "Rosinopoulos" by residents for its large Greek population, began as a classic street car suburb. Today, one of the most unique characteristics of the area is the sheer number of people from all races, backgrounds and countries who call Roslindale home. Roslindale Square, the heart of the neighborhood, is the subject of a National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street award. It is considered to be an example of the value of historic and aesthetic preservation in economic revitalization.
ROXBURY
A drive through Roxbury is both a history lesson and a tour of a modern urban neighborhood. One of the oldest neighborhoods in Boston, Roxbury has long thrived on its proximity to downtown while retaining its neighborhood qualities. Home to a great number of parks, schools and churches, a visitor can see Boston’s history in the architecture and landmarks of the neighborhood. At the same time, Roxbury is a thriving community with a multitude of housing options and a variety of ethnic shops.
SOUTH BOSTON
If the dictionary had a listing for neighborhood pride, there would be a picture of South Boston next to it. Its residents are famous in town for their love of and loyalty for their neighborhood. And it’s no wonder. Southie boasts miles of beaches and waterfront parks that culminate in Castle Island. There, visitors can enjoy the Revolutionary War era fort, get a bite to eat at Sullivan’s, play in the playground, fish off the pier, or simply take a stroll. South Boston is densely populated – known for three deckers and rowhouses, there are single family homes in the neighborhood too. It is also home to a great variety of bars and pubs and, more recently has been the location for some new restaurants. Year round, a visitor can find residents strolling up and down Broadway doing their shopping and greeting their neighbors.
SOUTH END
The South End, with its blocks of Victorian brick row houses, upscale restaurants, and art galleries, is swiftly becoming one of the most popular places to live in Boston. Many of the row houses underwent renovation starting in the 1960s, and today the neighborhood is filled with a diverse mix of families, young professionals, a gay and lesbian community and a thriving artistic center. Trendy restaurants brush shoulders with coffeshops and Mom & Pop grocery stores along Tremont Street and its side streets all the way down to Washington Street (link to Wash. Main Streets), which is experiencing an artistic revival - a significant number of artists are moving in, and galleries are cropping up around the area to show their works.
WEST ROXBURY
Originally part of the town of Roxbury, West Roxbury formed its own government in 1851 and was annexed by Boston in 1874. Bordered by Roslindale and Hyde Park, West Roxbury’s main thoroughfare is Centre Street, lined with local restaurants and commercial establishments. Today, the neighborhood’s tree-lined streets and mostly single family homes give it a suburban feel in an urban setting. Life in the neighborhood centers around political and civic activism as well as local parishes and youth athletic leagues.
Should you wish further and more specific information about any neighborhood or community, please email me at Charissa@HomesInBoston.com with your questions and I'd be more than happy to be of service. Don't forget you can use the map above to quickly find out basic information about any other city/town and, just as quickly, click right to it. 
Portions © Copyright 1996-2003 City of Boston All rights reserved. Used with Permission
Further information from Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. Population data from US Census 2000.
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