Boston, MA 02129
Charlestown Real Estate
Bunker Hill Monument, the Navy Yard and brick and clapboard rowhouses across the harbor
Updated
- ZIP codes
- 02129
- Getting around
- Orange Line at Community College and Sullivan Square; MBTA ferry (F4) from the Navy Yard to Long Wharf; bus routes 92 and 93
- Typical homes
- Federal and Greek Revival rowhouses, wood-frame row and attached homes, and condos in converted Navy Yard buildings and newer developments
Charlestown is a peninsula of its own, settled in 1629 (a year before Boston) and set between the Charles and Mystic Rivers. Almost the whole town burned during the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775, so most of what stands today went up in the decades that followed, as rowhouses climbed the slopes around the Bunker Hill Monument. Charlestown remained a separate city until Boston annexed it in 1874.
Main Street runs the length of the peninsula past City Square and Thompson Square, with shops and restaurants along the way, while Bunker Hill Street follows the ridge above it. Monument Square and the Training Field (Winthrop Square) are the historic greens, and Doherty Park sits on the upper part of the hill. The Charlestown Navy Yard, home of USS Constitution, lines the harbor, and the Harborwalk follows the water past its piers.
The F4 ferry from the Navy Yard reaches Long Wharf in about ten minutes, giving the neighborhood a water route downtown in addition to the Orange Line. The Freedom Trail also ends here, crossing the bridge from the North End to finish at USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument.
Where Charlestown is
Living in Charlestown
What makes Charlestown special
Bunker Hill Monument
The granite obelisk completed in 1843 rises over Monument Square, with rowhouses built around it on land sold by the Monument Association.
Charlestown Navy Yard
USS Constitution and its museum, dry docks, piers and converted brick shipyard buildings stretch along the harbor and the Harborwalk.
Historic squares
Monument Square, the 1640s Training Field renamed Winthrop Square, and City Square Park are green anchors across the neighborhood.
Main Street
The neighborhood's commercial spine, with cafés, restaurants and small shops between City Square and Thompson Square.
Orange Line and ferry
Community College and Sullivan Square stations connect to downtown, and the F4 ferry links the Navy Yard to Long Wharf.
The Market
Charlestown homes & real estate
The historic core is a dense mix of attached houses. Brick Federal and Greek Revival rowhouses cluster around Monument Square and along streets near the Training Field, while wood-frame and clapboard rowhouses and attached homes run along the side streets off Bunker Hill Street. Many have been split into condominiums, while others are still single-family townhouses. In the Navy Yard, former shipbuilding and industrial buildings have become loft-style condos, joined by newer waterfront construction.
Navy Yard buyers should look at flood risk, since city climate planning identifies flooding exposure around that part of the waterfront, and review FEMA maps and insurance. Up on the hill, older rowhouses call for careful inspection of foundations, roofs and systems, and buyers should confirm whether a home sits in the Monument Square or another historic district. Parking varies from deeded spaces to resident-permit streets. For a pricing picture of a specific Charlestown street or building, contact The Pettengill Group and we will share what recent sales show.
Helpful guides: Renting in BostonFirst-time buyer guideHow offers work in MassachusettsMortgage options by property typeSelling a house in Massachusetts
Getting around: Orange Line guide
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What ZIP codes cover Charlestown?
All of Charlestown, including the Navy Yard, is in ZIP code 02129.
How do you get to downtown Boston from Charlestown?
The Orange Line runs from Community College and Sullivan Square stations to North Station and Downtown Crossing. The MBTA F4 ferry links the Navy Yard to Long Wharf, and buses 92 and 93 also run toward downtown. Many people walk across the North Washington Street bridge to the North End.
What types of homes are for sale in Charlestown?
Expect brick and wood-frame rowhouses, both whole houses and condos within them, plus loft-style and newer condos in and around the Charlestown Navy Yard.
What is Charlestown known for?
It is known for the Bunker Hill Monument, USS Constitution at the Charlestown Navy Yard, the end of the Freedom Trail and its blocks of 19th-century rowhouses.
Is the Charlestown Navy Yard in a flood zone?
Parts of the Navy Yard waterfront are identified by Climate Ready Boston as exposed to coastal flooding. Flood zone status and insurance requirements vary by building, so check FEMA maps and ask about each property.
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