Beacon Hill Real Estate Information

Beacon Hill, one of Boston’s oldest communities is approximately one-half mile square and is bounded by Beacon Street, Bowdoin Street, Cambridge Street and Storrow Drive. There are about 10,000 people that call this quant area their home. Known for its Federal style rowhouses and narrow gas-lit streets with brick sidewalks, Beacon Hill is often named one of the most expenses places to live in the country. This desire to live on the Hill is quickly seen as one walks about and experiences the small community feel, friendly neighbors and serene setting.

Beacon Hill got its name for the location of a former beacon atop the highest point in central Boston that once stood atop its hill to warn locals about foreign invasion. The entire hill was once owned by William Blaxton, the first European settler of Boston. In 1935 he sold his land to the Puritans. Before the Revolution, Beacon Hill was pasture land with a few exceptions that included John Hancock’s country estate. This estate was demolished to make room for the western addition of the State House.

The South Slope which were spacious and carefully laid out was developed for Boston’s richest families by Mt. Vernon Proprietors in the 1790’s. The North Slope developed more organically while growing up and down alleys and into nooks and crannies. The North Slope residents were former slaves, sailors, poets, etc. In the 19th century many of the homes on the North Slope became tenements due to the influx of immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe. The Flat of the Hill was originally part of the Charles River. Blacksmiths, shoemakers, stables began calling it home after being filled in. Later the Flat of the Hill would be home to garages of the South Slope which since then have been renovated into living quarters. Today the Flat of the Hill is home to some of the most expensive homes in Boston.

In December 19, 1962 Beacon Hill was designated a National Historic Landmark.

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The Beacon Hill market continued to be one of the stronger markets in the Boston area. 202 properties changed hands according the MLS in 2008. 18 of these homes were single family homes with an average list price of $3,294,444 and an average sale price of $2,975,056 or 90.31% of their listing price. On average it took 166 days for a single family property to sell in Beacon Hill with the range of list prices at $879,000 to 11,950,000 and the range of sold prices at $884,000 to 9,500,000. This is compared to 2007 when 15 single family homes sold for an average price of $2,491,533 while taking on average 213 days on the market. In 2008 median price of homes in the Beacon Hill area increased 32.23% while homes sold 22.16% faster.

The Beacon Hill condominium market faired a little differently then the Single Family market, but showed very promising results compared to the rest of the country. In 2008 177 condos sold making up nearly 88% of all activity in Beacon Hill. The average condo sold for $684,484 while taking 111.6 days to sell in 2008. This is a 2.30% drop in sales prices when compared to 2007’s average price of $700,579. There were 33 fewer condos listed and it took on average 96.82 days to sell in 2007. This is a 22.92% drop in sales volume with a 15.27% increase in the days on market for the group. The range of the listing prices in the area were $175,000 to $5,850,000 and the sale range of $165,000 to $5,000,000. Based on these figures, on average a Beacon Hill Condo owner received 95.31% of their asking price in 2008.

Least, but not forgotten is the Multi-Family properties that sold in 2008 according to the MLS. In 2008 there were 7 properties that were sold with an average sales price of $2,061,286. These homes took on average 112.7 days to sell. The range of listing prices was $1,450,000 to $6,200,000 and sold prices of $1,410,000 to $5,000,000. The sellers of multi-family properties on average received 88.28% of their asking price.

***These figures are deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Source MLSPIN.

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• Massachusetts State House
  Home of the state’s government
• Louisburg Square
  Owned by the people who live in the houses surrounding it, Louisburg Square is the last private square in the city of Boston.
• Bull and Finch Bar
  Source of inspiration and exterior shots for the Cheer’s television show
• Charles Street Meeting House
  A historic church built in 1804 that was a stronghold of the anit-slavery movement. The meeting house is part of the Boston Black Heritage Trail
• The Club of Odd Volumes
• Suffolk University & Law School
• Park Street Church
• Museum of African American History
  Museum of African American History
• Nichols House Museum
  Historic 1804 townhouse
• Harrison Gray Otis House
  Harrison Gray Otis House
• The Francis Parkman House
• Boston Public Garden
  Boston Public Garden
• Boston Common
  Boston Common
• Boston Center for Jewish Heritage
  Boston Center for Jewish Heritage

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The Boston Public Schools (BPS) continues to improve, but like most things still have room for improvement. Over the past decade, BPS has been transformed from a failing school district to one of the most renowned urban school districts in the country. Over the past couple years many media outlets have heralded Boston as a model for urban school district reform. These publications included the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and U.S. News & World Report. In fact, in 2006, Boston won the Broad Prize for Urban Education as the best city school district in the nation.

Since 1998, the City of Boston has constructed six new school buildings and will be home to 24 pilot schools in September 2009 with an anticipated four more being opened in the near future. Today, Boston offers 38 citywide high school options with 27 housing less than 400 students. U.S News & World Report recently ranked Boston Latin School #27 on the first list of America’s 100 Best High Schools with 8 other BPS schools receiving metals of silver and bronze.

This isn’t the only “first” that BPS has received! In 1635 Boston was home to the first public school (Boston Latin School) and would later open the first public elementary school in 1639 (Mather Elementary School). In 1647 Boston became place to the first public school district with the first public high school following in 1821 (English High School). It is because of these many “firsts” that Boston Public Schools are considered the birthplace of public education in this nation.

Striving to improve is the reason that BPS continues to push towards the advancement of education through technology. In 1996, there was one computer for every 63 students, today the ratio is one computer for every four students. In 1998, Boston became the first urban school district in the country to provide high speed internet access and wire all of its schools.

Boston’s Student assignment plan for elementary and middle schools divides the city into three zones. Beacon Hill falls in the North Zone. Parents can apply for schools within their school zone. All high schools are city wide.