Boston, MA 02132
West Roxbury Real Estate
Centre Street, three Needham Line stops and the Charles River at Boston's southwest edge
Updated
- ZIP codes
- 02132
- Getting around
- Needham Line commuter rail at Bellevue, Highland and West Roxbury; MBTA buses 35, 36 and 37 to Forest Hills on the Orange Line
- Typical homes
- Colonials, Capes, Tudors and Victorians on their own lots, plus two-families and garden-style condo complexes
West Roxbury fills the southwestern tip of Boston, bounded by the Charles River, Brookline, Newton, Dedham and the Stony Brook Reservation. Settled in 1630 as farmland of Roxbury, it became its own town in 1851 and was annexed by Boston in 1874. The Boston and Providence Railroad's branch line, and later electric streetcars, brought the first wave of suburban houses to its hills.
Centre Street is the spine of the neighborhood, lined with storefronts, banks, restaurants and churches, including the Theodore Parker Church with its Tiffany Studios windows. Bellevue Hill, the highest natural point in Boston, rises between Centre Street and Washington Street. Most people drive, but three Needham Line stations and frequent buses to Forest Hills give real transit options, and the VFW Parkway links to Route 128 and the Jamaicaway.
History buffs should look up Brook Farm, the 1840s utopian community associated with Nathaniel Hawthorne and Margaret Fuller. Its land off Baker Street is now a state historic site with walking trails through fields and woods, and it sits beside the Gethsemane and St. Joseph cemeteries.
Where West Roxbury is
Living in West Roxbury
What makes West Roxbury special
Millennium Park
A 100-acre park on the former Gardner Street landfill, with sports fields, walking loops, playgrounds and a canoe launch on the Charles River.
Centre Street
The main business district runs along Centre Street, with shops, services, restaurants and the granite Theodore Parker Church at Corey Street.
Three rail stations
Bellevue, Highland and West Roxbury stations on the Needham Line run to Back Bay and South Station.
Brook Farm
The site of the nineteenth-century Transcendentalist community off Baker Street is preserved as a historic site with trails.
Bellevue Hill
At roughly 330 feet, Bellevue Hill is the city's highest natural point, topped by the historic Bellevue Standpipe.
Stony Brook Reservation
Hundreds of acres of state woodland, ponds and trails along the West Roxbury and Hyde Park border.
The Market
West Roxbury homes & real estate
Most of West Roxbury's housing is single-family, built in waves from the late 1800s through the decades after World War II. Bellevue Hill and the streets near Centre Street have older Victorians and Colonial Revivals, while neighborhoods toward the VFW Parkway and the Dedham line are filled with Colonials, Cape Cods, Tudors and ranches on individual lots. Two-family houses appear throughout, and garden-style and mid-rise condominium complexes sit along the VFW Parkway and near the Charles River.
Buyers here are usually comparing lot size, garage and driveway space, and the age of updates on mid-century houses, so ask for permits on additions and finished basements. For condos in larger complexes, review the association's budget, reserve study and parking rules. A few streets near the Charles and its brooks sit near mapped flood zones, which is worth checking with a flood map. Get in touch whenever you want recent West Roxbury sales broken down by street and style.
Helpful guides: Renting in BostonFirst-time buyer guideHow offers work in MassachusettsMortgage options by property typeSelling a house in Massachusetts
Getting around: Commuter rail towns
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What ZIP codes cover West Roxbury?
West Roxbury is covered by ZIP code 02132.
How do you get to downtown Boston from West Roxbury?
The Needham Line stops at West Roxbury, Highland and Bellevue stations and continues to Back Bay and South Station. Bus routes 35, 36 and 37 run along Centre Street and nearby roads to Forest Hills for the Orange Line, and drivers typically use the VFW Parkway and the Jamaicaway.
What types of homes are for sale in West Roxbury?
Single-family homes are the core of the market, including Colonials, Capes, Tudors, Victorians and ranches. You will also find two-family houses and condominiums in garden-style and mid-rise complexes.
What is West Roxbury known for?
West Roxbury is known for its Centre Street business district, Millennium Park on the Charles River, Bellevue Hill, and Brook Farm, the nineteenth-century Transcendentalist community.
Is West Roxbury part of the city of Boston?
Yes. West Roxbury was its own town from 1851 until Boston annexed it in 1874, and it is now a Boston neighborhood with Boston city services.
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