Boston, MA 02113
North End Real Estate
Brick walk-ups, the Paul Revere House and Hanover Street, a short walk from the harbor
Updated
- ZIP codes
- 02113
- Getting around
- Walk to Haymarket (Orange and Green Lines), Aquarium (Blue Line) and North Station (Orange, Green and commuter rail)
- Typical homes
- Condos and apartments in four- and five-story brick tenement buildings, with some waterfront wharf conversions
Settled in the 1630s, the North End is Boston's oldest residential neighborhood, a compact wedge of the old Shawmut Peninsula wrapped by the harbor on one side and the Rose Kennedy Greenway on the other. Its tight, irregular street grid predates the city's later planning, and most of what lines those streets today is brick tenement housing from the late 1800s and early 1900s, rehabbed over the decades into apartments and condominiums.
Hanover Street and Salem Street carry most of the neighborhood's bakeries, cafés, groceries and shops, and the Freedom Trail threads through on its way to the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church. Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park opens onto the harbor along Atlantic Avenue. There is no subway stop inside the neighborhood itself, but Haymarket, Aquarium and North Station are each a short walk away, and many errands happen on foot.
When the Central Artery came down during the Big Dig, the elevated highway that had cut the North End off from downtown was replaced by the Greenway, so the walk to Faneuil Hall and the Financial District now crosses parkland instead of passing under a viaduct.
Where the North End is
Living in the North End
What makes the North End special
Revolutionary landmarks
The Paul Revere House, dating to around 1680, and the Old North Church of 1723 both sit on the Freedom Trail within a few blocks of each other.
Hanover and Salem Streets
Two narrow commercial spines lined with bakeries, espresso bars, butchers, specialty grocers and small storefronts that set the pace of the neighborhood.
Harbor parks
Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park and the Harborwalk put a lawn, a trellis and open water views at the neighborhood's eastern edge.
Copp's Hill and the Prado
Copp's Hill Burying Ground crowns the high ground near Charter Street, and the Paul Revere Mall links Hanover Street to the Old North Church.
Walkable to transit
Haymarket, Aquarium and North Station put the Orange, Green and Blue Lines and North Station commuter rail within roughly a ten-minute walk.
The Market
North End homes & real estate
The typical North End home is a condo inside a brick walk-up of four or five stories, built as tenement housing around the turn of the twentieth century and later reconfigured into larger units. Floor plans tend to be compact and often run front to back, and some buildings have been gut-renovated while others keep older layouts. Along Commercial Street, former wharf and warehouse buildings such as those on the waterfront piers hold larger condos, and a small number of rowhouses and townhouses turn up around the side streets.
Elevators are uncommon in the older buildings, so the floor a unit sits on matters, and roof deck rights are worth confirming in the condo documents. Off-street parking is scarce, which makes a deeded or rented space a real consideration. Buyers near Commercial Street and the waterfront should also review FEMA flood maps and insurance needs. For current North End numbers on a building or block you have in mind, get in touch and we will pull together recent sales.
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 codes cover the North End?
The North End is covered by ZIP code 02113. A few buildings on the waterfront wharves along Commercial Street, such as Lewis Wharf and Commercial Wharf, use neighboring ZIP codes 02109 or 02110, so check the specific address.
How do you get to downtown Boston from the North End?
Walking is usually simplest. Faneuil Hall and the Financial District are a few minutes away across the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and the Haymarket, Aquarium and North Station subway stops connect to the Orange, Green and Blue Lines.
What types of homes are for sale in the North End?
Most listings are condominiums in brick walk-up buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s, along with larger units in converted wharf buildings on Commercial Street and the occasional townhouse.
What is the North End known for?
It is known as Boston's oldest residential neighborhood, home to the Paul Revere House, the Old North Church and Copp's Hill Burying Ground, and for the bakeries and cafés of Hanover Street.
Is parking available in the North End?
Street parking is mostly by resident permit and most buildings have no garage, so many owners rent spaces in nearby garages. It is worth confirming exactly what parking, if any, comes with a home before making an offer.
Stay in the loop
Be the first to know about the North End
Get updates, guides and the first look when homes come to market, straight to your inbox.
- Homes coming to market in the North End
- North End market updates and new guides
- Occasional emails, unsubscribe anytime
Keep exploring
Home value
North End home values
What could your North End home sell for? A free, personalized estimate.
Read moreNearby
West End
Riverfront towers, Mass General and TD Garden, with the Otis House and Old West Church
Read moreNearby
Downtown Boston
Glass towers and loft conversions near Boston Common, Downtown Crossing and the harbor
Read moreNearby
Charlestown
Bunker Hill Monument, the Navy Yard and brick and clapboard rowhouses across the harbor
Read moreNearby
East Boston
Harbor views from Piers Park, Maverick Square and Blue Line stops out to Orient Heights
Read moreGuide
Living near the Blue Line, from Bowdoin to Wonderland
The Blue Line is a single line of 12 stations, running from Bowdoin on Beacon Hill under Boston Harbor to East Boston and on to Revere, ending at Wonderland. Its East Boston and Revere stops are where most of the homes along it are.
Read more