Boston, MA 02131
Roslindale Real Estate
A village square around Adams Park, a restored 1911 substation and a commuter rail stop
Updated
- ZIP codes
- 02131
- Getting around
- Needham Line commuter rail at Roslindale Village; MBTA buses including the 14, 30, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 51 through Roslindale Square, many to Forest Hills on the Orange Line
- Typical homes
- Victorian and Colonial Revival single-families, two-families, triple-deckers and condo conversions
Before it had a name, this corner of old Roxbury was known as South Street Crossing, after the place the Boston and Providence Railroad's branch line crossed South Street. When a post office was needed, John Pierce suggested Roslindale, after Roslin near Edinburgh. The area voted to join Boston with West Roxbury in 1873, and streetcar lines built in the 1880s and 1890s filled its hillsides with houses.
Roslindale Square is the center of daily life, laid out in the 1920s around the tree-shaded triangle of Adams Park. Bakeries, cafes and shops line Washington Street, Belgrade Avenue and Corinth Street, and the farmers market sets up in the square in season. The commuter rail station sits right at the square, buses fan out in every direction, and the Walter Street gate of the Arnold Arboretum is a short walk away.
The 1911 Roslindale Substation, a brick electrical building from the Boston Elevated Railway, sat empty for decades before its restoration. It now anchors the square again, with a beer garden and retail space next to new apartments. Saturday mornings in season, the farmers market and the shops around the park make it easy to get a feel for the square before you look at houses.
Where Roslindale is
Living in Roslindale
What makes Roslindale special
Roslindale Square
Washington Street, Belgrade Avenue and Corinth Street meet around Adams Park, a compact business district of independent shops, bakeries and restaurants.
Arboretum next door
The Arnold Arboretum's southern section, including Peters Hill and the Walter Street gate, lies within Roslindale.
Village rail station
Roslindale Village station on Belgrade Avenue has Needham Line trains to Back Bay and South Station, right at the edge of the square.
Restored substation
The 1911 Roslindale Substation was rebuilt as a gathering place, a visible piece of the neighborhood's streetcar history.
Fields and golf
Fallon Field, Healy Field and the George Wright Golf Course, which straddles the Hyde Park line, give the neighborhood plenty of open space.
The Market
Roslindale homes & real estate
Roslindale's housing is a streetcar-era mix built mostly from the 1890s through the 1930s. Close to the square, and along Washington Street and South Street, two-families and triple-deckers share blocks with small apartment buildings, and many of the multi-families have been converted into condominiums. Farther out, on the hills toward Metropolitan Hill, Fallon Field and the West Roxbury line, the streets turn to Victorian, Colonial Revival and Craftsman single-families, often with driveways and modest yards. New apartment and condo construction has clustered near Roslindale Square and Washington Street.
Buyers here often weigh a single-family against a two-family that offsets the mortgage with rental income, so it helps to understand both. With older houses, look carefully at the roof, the heating system and the foundation, and confirm how a condo association handles shared expenses and the driveway. Parking is easier than in the inner neighborhoods, but it still varies by street. When you are ready to talk numbers, ask us for a current snapshot of Roslindale sales and how they apply to your home.
Helpful guides: Renting in BostonFirst-time buyer guideHow offers work in MassachusettsMortgage options by property typeSelling a house in Massachusetts
Compare: Jamaica Plain vs. Roslindale
Getting around: Commuter rail townsOrange Line guide
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What ZIP codes cover Roslindale?
Roslindale uses ZIP code 02131.
How do you get to downtown Boston from Roslindale?
Needham Line trains from Roslindale Village station run to Back Bay and South Station. Many bus routes, including the 30, 34, 35, 36 and 37, connect Roslindale Square with Forest Hills, where the Orange Line runs downtown.
What types of homes are for sale in Roslindale?
Roslindale has Victorian, Colonial Revival and Craftsman single-family homes, many two-family houses and triple-deckers, condominiums in converted multi-families and some newer condo and apartment buildings near the square.
What is Roslindale known for?
Roslindale is known for Roslindale Square and Adams Park, the restored 1911 Roslindale Substation, a long-running farmers market, and its location beside the Arnold Arboretum.
Where does the name Roslindale come from?
The name was suggested by resident John Pierce in the nineteenth century, after the town of Roslin in Scotland and the hills and dales of the area. Before that, the district was called South Street Crossing.
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Roslindale home values
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Jamaica Plain vs. Roslindale
Jamaica Plain and Roslindale are neighboring Boston neighborhoods with similar streetcar-era houses and the Arnold Arboretum between them. The main practical difference is transit, with four Orange Line stations in JP and Needham Line commuter rail plus buses in Roslindale.
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