Boston
Boston is a diverse and bustling city composed of nearly 700,000 residents in the city and nearly 5 million residents in the Greater Boston region. In 2018, the median age was 32.1 years and the median household income was $71,834. The 4 largest ethnic groups in Boston, MA are White (Non-Hispanic) (44.4%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (22.4%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (9.33%), and White (Hispanic) (8.06%). 36.7% of the people in Boston, MA speak a non-English language, and 86.4% are U.S. citizens. Up to date demographic information about Boston can be found here.
Photos courtesy of Becca Gaffney, MD, class of 2024
Neighborhoods
Brookline
Brookline is located about a 20 minute walk from the Longwood hospitals and is a popular neighborhood to live amongst the Harvard dermatology residents. It has a more suburban, quiet neighborhood feel but has many shops and restaurants to explore. Some of the staples of this area include the giant Trader Joes, the vintage Coolidge Corner theater, and being very close to the green line on the T.
Cambridge
Cambridge is located about a 15-minute subway ride (right across the Charles river) from the city and is a nice area to live for the Harvard dermatology residents. Cambridge is home to many students and young professionals. It is the home of Harvard University, MIT, as well as many startups and biotech companies. There are many restaurants and breweries in this area.
Downtown/Back Bay
A more up-scale neighborhood located in the heart of the city that has been rapidly gentrifying over the last several years and is mostly inhabited by young professionals and families. There are lots of outdoor restaurants to explore in this area and numerous shops given the proximity to Newbury Street (the most popular shopping street in Boston) as well as the Prudential Center. This neighborhood is very conveniently located to MGH but a bit further from the Longwood campus (easy commute on the T). Prices in this area tend to be on the more expensive side.
Fenway
Boston's Fenway neighborhood is the home of Fenway Park (home ball park of the Boston Red Sox), the famous City sign, the Museum of Fine Arts, Symphony Hall, multiple restaurants, bars and clubs. It is walking distance from the Longwood Campus (the location of BIDMC, BWH, and BCH), which makes it a great location for the Harvard Dermatology residents to hang out after work. Time Out Market (basically a fancy food court with Boston flare!) is a common spot that our residents meet at for tasty food and drinks.
Somerville
A hip neighborhood about 25 minutes by the T (subway) from the city. It is very popular among young people and has many bars, mom-and-pop stores and restaurants. It is the home of Tufts University which is located on the Somerville/Medford border. Somerville is a great town for biking, and it is located at the start of the Minuteman Bike Path which is a beautiful path for running and cycling - it stretches all the way the suburbs with some very nice scenery along the way.
Residents candlepin bowling in Somerville!
Surrounding Areas & Travel
Cape Cod
A peninsula off the coast of MA, this is a popular destination for visiting beaches. There is a gorgeous park here called the Cape Cod National Seashore with breathtaking dunes and a majestic view of the Atlantic Ocean. Provincetown, a cute town at the tip of the Cape, is a fun area to visit and explore. The town of Wellfleet in Cape Cod sells permits to do recreational oystering right on the beach.
Martha’s Vineyard
Martha’s Vineyard is an island off the coast of MA which is reachable by ferry. It is a fun summer spot to go relaxing on the beach, cycling, eating great food and seafood, and enjoying the beautiful architecture of the historic buildings in this area.
Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts is a gorgeous area, all year round but especially the summer and the fall. It is a 1.5-2 hour drive from Boston. There Berkshires are a beautiful natural area for hiking and exploring. Tanglewood Performing Arts Center is a famous music venue in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts, and it has been the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937. You can catch many great performances here when the weather is nice, ranging from classical music to rock.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a beautiful state only a 2-3 hour drive from Boston. For the avid hikers and outdoor explorers, this is a really cool place to visit. Mount Washington, located in the White Mountain National Forest, is a 6288-foot peak which is open year-round for hiking. There is also a road to drive up the mountain in your car if you are looking for a more relaxing experience.
Residents eat lobster and other fine meals in Boston!
Residents climb Mount Washington!
Vermont
Vermont is a gorgeous New England state that is only a 3-hour drive from Boston. It is world-famous for its maple syrup, beautiful scenery, and friendly people. There are many fun activities for the whole family which make Vermont the perfect weekend getaway.
Cabot cheese factory: Cabot makes a variety of specialty cheeses and dairy products which are popular all over the country. It is an interesting factory to visit on a tour, and they will show you the entire process of cheese making. They also have a tasting room where you can sample many (20+) of their different cheeses for free, as many times as your heart desires.
Ben and Jerry’s factory: Ben and Jerry’s is a beloved ice cream brand world-wide, and they have their factory in Vermont which is very fun to visit. You can take a tour of their factory and sample their ice cream flavors.
Maine
Their slogan is “Vacationland” on all the license plates, and this is very true. Maine is a beautiful state with a gorgeous outdoors. Popular destinations include Acadia National Park located on Mount Desert Island, and Portland, Maine which is a port town with a renowned food scene. Maine is an amazing state for a long weekend getaway.
Rhode Island
Providence is just an hour and a half away from Boston, and is nationally-renowned for the arts (it is the home of the Rhode Island School of Design), as well as the food. Rhode Island is an awesome destination with a beautiful ocean front and lots of opportunities for biking.
Food and Nightlife
Chinatown
A fun area downtown with many places to eat. There are quite a few restaurants that do dim sum (Chinese tapas) - e.g. Hei La Moon and Windsor Cafe. There are also sushi restaurants, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, and even Malaysian cuisine (Penang restaurant on Washington Street). Chinatown also houses the theatre district where you can catch shows and tours, as well as clubs and nightlife.
Seaport District
A bustling and relatively new area in Boston that has some great waterfront dining options, shops, and seafood (e.g. Yankee Lobster which has great clam chowder). The Harpoon brewery and Trillium brewing company are also both in the Seaport district.
Central Square
Hip location in Cambridge which has an Hmart (specialty Asian grocery store), multiple restaurants and clubs like the Middle East (popular venue for indie bands), as well as a popular club for social dancing and salsa dancing which is called Havana.
Brighton/Allston
Fun college “town” or district of Boston, it is the home of Boston University, and has many restaurants including an entire food court devoted to Asian cuisine (Super 88 Market). There are multiple bars in this area, as well as a low-key pool hall called Allston Billiards.
North End
At under a 10-minute walk from the Massachusetts General Hospital, the North End clocks in as the premier Italian dining destination in New England. This charming district has many fantastic spots for the freshest pasta and seafood; some of our favorites are Giacomo’s and the Daily Catch. There are also several pastry shops that have some of the best cannolis anywhere - Mike’s Pastry and Modern Pastry on Hanover Street. On Fridays and Saturdays, the North End hosts an outdoor market (called Haymarket), which brings exceptional deals for fresh produce.
Fenway
Boston's Fenway neighborhood is the home of Fenway Park (home ball park of the Boston Red Sox), the famous City sign, the Museum of Fine Arts, Symphony Hall, multiple restaurants, bars and clubs. It is walking distance from the Longwood Campus (the location of BIDMC, BWH, and BCH), which makes it a great location for the Harvard Dermatology residents to hang out after work. Time Out Market (basically a fancy food court with Boston flare!) is a common spot that our residents meet at for tasty food and drinks.
Quotes from residents about life in Boston
“I love that there is so much hiking and many cute towns to visit around Boston. It’s got all the perks of a medium sized city, with the ease of escaping to the country!”
“Boston is the best city in the world, I’d never live anywhere else...So many neighborhoods to explore! What’s better than the public garden in the spring and the esplanade in the summer? And we’re just an hours drive to the beach or the mountains. Love it here.”
“Summer in Boston is one of the most magical places - so many outdoor activities on the water, wonderful food, beer gardens, etc.”
“Boston has a little bit of everything. If you’re into nightlife, bars, brunches, and rooftops, you can find all of those in the city. On the other hand, if you’re more into hiking, visiting quaint towns, skiing, or other outdoor activities, all of that is available too. The city is so versatile and beautiful, especially in the summer. Great place to live!”
“Boston is the best sports city in the country!”