Apartments in Boston

What’s it like living in Somerville?

Somerville is its own city, just north of Cambridge, and one of the most densely populated places in New England. It’s home to students, young professionals, artists and long-time families, including large Brazilian, Salvadoran and Haitian communities. Life is built around squares with their own character, and most homes are triple-deckers on residential streets.

What are the best parts of Somerville to live in?

• Davis Square: the busiest square, with the Red Line, the most restaurants and the Somerville Theatre.
• Union Square: Green Line access since 2022 and a growing food scene.
• Porter Square: quieter and residential, on the Red Line and the Fitchburg commuter rail line.
• Highland Avenue and the Tufts area: campus energy with local shops.
• Ball Square and Magoun Square: usually more affordable, now with their own Green Line stations.

Can I rent long-term in Somerville, or only for a few months?

Both. June Homes leases in Somerville run from 1 to 12 months, so a summer internship, a semester or a full year all work, and you can extend if you stay longer. Leases start on your chosen date, not just the Boston area’s usual September 1. Every lease is 30 days or longer, so these aren’t nightly rentals.

Can I rent a room in Somerville?

Yes. Most June Homes options in Somerville are private rooms in shared apartments with three or more bedrooms, with furnished common areas and roommates who went through the same background and credit checks. Studios and whole apartments are less common here, so check availability if you need your own place. Our guide to finding roommates in Boston covers the wider search.

How much does it cost to rent in Somerville?

Private rooms in Somerville currently start around $1,100 per month, and prices vary by room size, bathroom setup and move-in date. Somerville usually costs less than Cambridge or downtown Boston, but more than Medford or Malden. Check our hot deals page for discounted homes, and if a friend is looking too, our refer-a-friend program rewards you when they sign a lease.

How is public transit in Somerville?

• Red Line: Davis and Porter Squares, about 15–20 minutes to Park Street and a few stops from Harvard and MIT.
• Green Line: Union Square, plus East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square, Ball Square and Medford/Tufts, opened in 2022.
• Orange Line: Assembly Row, on the east side.
• Buses: routes including the 77, 87, 88, 89, 90, 94 and 96 connect the squares to each other and to the Red Line.
• Commuter rail: Porter Square, on the Fitchburg Line.

Transit varies by street, so check each listing’s location on the map before booking.

Do I need a car in Somerville?

Most residents don’t. The squares are walkable, the Somerville Community Path runs through the city for biking, and street parking requires a residential permit in most areas.

Somerville or Cambridge?

Somerville usually costs less than Cambridge for similar space, with many of the same transit lines. Cambridge puts you closer to Harvard, MIT and Kendall Square; Somerville trades a slightly longer commute for lower rent and a more neighborhood feel.

Are there cheaper places near Somerville?

• Medford: a similar feel with lower rents, especially near Tufts.
• Malden: bigger savings, with Orange Line access to downtown.
• Arlington: suburban and quieter, but reached by bus rather than the T.

For the wider picture, see our guide to Boston’s cheapest and most expensive neighborhoods.

Who rents furnished housing in Somerville?

• Students: Tufts University straddles Somerville and Medford, and Harvard and MIT are a short Red Line ride away.
• Interns and corporate relocations: biotech and tech jobs in Kendall Square and Cambridge, without a 12-month lease.
• Young professionals: for the squares’ restaurants and bars and lower rent than Cambridge.
• Healthcare workers: Cambridge Hospital and Mount Auburn Hospital are close by. See Travel Nurse Housing Boston.

What is there to do in Somerville?

• Catch indie films and live shows at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square.
• Eat your way around Davis and Union Squares, from barbecue at Redbones to Brazilian bakeries.
• Grab a beer at Aeronaut Brewing or a pint at The Burren.
• Bike or walk the Somerville Community Path and the Mystic River paths.
• Join ArtBeat and the city’s other summer festivals.

Is Somerville safe?

Safety varies block by block and shifts year to year, so we keep it in a dedicated guide to the safest neighborhoods in Boston.

For qualifying criteria, deposits, lease rules and how booking works, see the main Boston page.