Boston, MA 02128
East Boston Real Estate
Harbor views from Piers Park, Maverick Square and Blue Line stops out to Orient Heights
Updated
- ZIP codes
- 02128
- Getting around
- Blue Line at Maverick, Airport, Wood Island, Orient Heights and Suffolk Downs; seasonal East Boston Ferry from Lewis Mall to Long Wharf; Sumner, Callahan and Ted Williams tunnels
- Typical homes
- Wood triple-deckers and two-families, Victorian rowhouses on Eagle Hill, and newer waterfront condo and apartment buildings
East Boston sits across the harbor from the North End and downtown, on land pieced together from several harbor islands, among them Noddle's Island. Landfill over the 19th and 20th centuries joined them into today's shape, including the ground under Logan Airport. In the 1800s its waterfront built ships; Donald McKay's yard on Border Street launched clippers like the Flying Cloud. The hills above the harbor filled in with wood-frame houses that still define Eagle Hill, Jeffries Point and Orient Heights.
Maverick Square and Central Square are the main commercial hubs, with Bennington and Meridian Streets carrying shops, bakeries and services. Piers Park on Marginal Street looks straight at the downtown skyline, the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway runs along a former rail corridor through the neighborhood, and Constitution Beach faces the airport from Orient Heights. To the north, Belle Isle Marsh Reservation protects one of the last salt marshes in Boston, next to the former Suffolk Downs racetrack.
The Suffolk Downs site is being redeveloped as a large mixed-use district that straddles the Revere line around the Suffolk Downs and Beachmont Blue Line stations, and new buildings have also risen along the waterfront near Lewis Mall and Jeffries Point. Both are worth watching as the neighborhood changes.
Where East Boston is
Living in East Boston
What makes East Boston special
Harbor views
Piers Park, LoPresti Park and the Harborwalk along Jeffries Point give wide views of the downtown skyline across the Inner Harbor.
Blue Line spine
Five Blue Line stations, from Maverick to Suffolk Downs, connect East Boston under the harbor to Aquarium, State and Government Center.
Shipbuilding history
Donald McKay's Border Street shipyard built famous clipper ships in the 1850s, and the waterfront still carries traces of that maritime past.
Greenway and beach
The Mary Ellen Welch Greenway follows an old rail corridor through the neighborhood, and Constitution Beach offers a harbor beach in Orient Heights.
Belle Isle Marsh
A state reservation of salt marsh and walking paths on the East Boston and Winthrop line, beside the Suffolk Downs redevelopment.
The Market
East Boston homes & real estate
The core of East Boston's housing is late 1800s and early 1900s wood-frame construction. Triple-deckers and two-families fill the streets around Maverick Square, Central Square and Day Square, many now split into condos. Eagle Hill has blocks of Victorian rowhouses and mansard-roofed homes, while Orient Heights, a hilltop section near the Winthrop line, has more single-family and two-family houses. Along the waterfront in Jeffries Point and near Lewis Mall, newer mid-rise condo and apartment buildings sit beside converted piers and industrial sites.
Waterfront and low-lying streets can sit in FEMA flood zones, so buyers should check the flood map, ask about flood insurance and look at elevation of mechanical systems. Airport noise varies a great deal by street and runway, so visit at different times of day. In converted multifamily buildings, confirm the condo documents, master insurance and how common repairs are handled. For an up-to-date look at East Boston sale prices and how your street compares, give us a call.
Helpful guides: Renting in BostonFirst-time buyer guideHow offers work in MassachusettsMortgage options by property typeSelling a house in Massachusetts
Getting around: Blue Line guide
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What ZIP code covers East Boston?
East Boston is covered by ZIP code 02128.
How do you get to downtown Boston from East Boston?
The Blue Line runs from Maverick under the harbor to Aquarium, State and Government Center. In season, the MBTA's East Boston Ferry links Lewis Mall with Long Wharf, and drivers use the Sumner, Callahan and Ted Williams tunnels.
What types of homes are for sale in East Boston?
Most listings are condos in converted triple-deckers and two-families, along with Victorian rowhouses on Eagle Hill, single- and two-family homes in Orient Heights, and units in newer waterfront buildings.
What is East Boston known for?
East Boston is known for its skyline views from Piers Park, its history as a shipbuilding center, Logan Airport on its eastern side, and the Blue Line stations that connect it to downtown.
Is flood risk a concern in East Boston?
Some waterfront and low-lying parts of East Boston are in FEMA flood zones. Buyers should check the flood map for a specific address and ask about insurance before making an offer.
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