Off-Campus Housing Guide for Graduate Students

| in Campus Life, Community, GRS, Students

Boston is a great location for graduate school, and there are so many options for where you will live during your time as a student at BU. As a major metropolitan city, Boston has various neighborhoods that cater to different student housing needs and desires. Below is a list of resources and neighborhoods that may be of interest as you begin to explore all the city has to offer and decide where you will call home for the duration of your graduate program. 

Interested in living off-campus in one of the surrounding neighborhoods?

Housing listings in Boston and the Greater Boston area can be found on the Off-Campus Services website. Our students also find it helpful to check out listing options on major listing websites such as Zillow, Apartments.com, Redfin, Trulia, and Realtor.com. Have questions as you prepare for your big move? Check out this Off-campus Housing FAQs for Graduate and Professional Students for topics that range from finding an apartment to signing a lease to moving in.

When it comes to choosing the right neighborhood in which to live, we encourage students to start by researching Boston’s neighborhoods to determine what will fit your individual needs. The Graduate Education Website’s Neighborhood Guide allows you to compare and contrast the neighborhoods based on location, proximity to BU’s campuses, public transit options, and more.

Here are a few popular nearby neighborhoods:

Allston:

the Boston neighborhood closest to the Charles River Campus (CRC) has perhaps the city’s highest concentration of music venues, hip cafes, and thrift shops as well as a large international population and, of course, plenty of undergrads. We wouldn’t call it a quiet place (especially Thursday-Saturday nights), but its proximity to campus, lower rents, abundant bus and MBTA (T) stops, and amenities like the Shaw’s and Super 88 supermarkets make Allston highly livable.

  • Proximity to CRC: 10 to 20-minute walk, 8 minutes via MBTA
  • Walkability (groceries, etc): Very walkable
  • Public transportation: Green line MBTA and buses

Brookline – Coolidge Corner:

This area is home to a beloved art deco movie theater and an excellent indie bookshop and is an easy T ride to many Boston city hotspots. The neighborhood may be the go-to destination for Jewish delis, but tacos, falafel, and pizza are all well represented, too.

  • Proximity to CRC: 25-minute walk, 13 minutes via MBTA
  • Walkability (groceries, etc): Very walkable
  • Public transportation: Green line MBTA and buses

Brookline – Brookline Village:

Brookline is attractive to families for its beautiful parks, charming community feel, gorgeous real estate, and access to the Brookline school system. The neighborhood also includes a number of high-caliber restaurants. There is no on-street overnight parking available in Brookline, but the neighborhood is very transit friendly, enabling most residents to live car-free.

  • Proximity to CRC: 30-minute walk, 25 minutes via MBTA
  • Walkability (groceries, etc): Very walkable
  • Public transportation: Green line MBTA and buses

Brighton:

This quiet residential neighborhood is located just west of the Charles River Campus, making it a great option for graduate students looking for an affordable and convenient home base. Tree-lined Washington Street is packed with bakeries, cafes, and Irish pubs that range from somewhat authentic to highly authentic. 

  • Proximity to CRC: 55-minute walk, 25 minutes via MBTA
  • Walkability (groceries, etc): Very walkable
  • Public transportation: Green line MBTA and buses

Kenmore Square & Fenway:

The neighborhood stretching from the commercial hub of Kenmore Square to the lush, green Back Bay Fens has undergone a flurry of development in the past decade. Luxury condos top glossy new restaurants and storefronts along Boylston Street, but affordable studios in the area’s plentiful townhouses are just as abundant. Fenway Park is an obvious attraction, but the neighborhood is also home to the House of Blues and a whole host of tried-and-true local restaurants.

  • Proximity to CRC: 13-minute walk, 15 minutes via MBTA
  • Walkability (groceries, etc): Very walkable
  • Public transportation: Green line MBTA and buses

To learn more about Boston and its neighborhoods, please take a look at other helpful resources include:

For information about on-campus housing options for graduate students, you can read our on-campus housing guide. If you have any questions regarding living in Boston, please don’t hesitate to reach out, or schedule a one-on-one meeting with the Master’s admissions team! 

About the Author:

Virginia (Ginger) Monroe

Marketing & Communication Assistant, GRS

Master’s Candidate, Theological Studies

 

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