The city of Boston is situated on the Shawmut Peninsula, located along the Massachusetts’ coastline. Boston is the capital and largest city of the state, and as one of the earliest New England settlements, the city has held a prominent place in American history. It was founded in 1630 by Puritan colonists, some of which emigrated from Boston, Lincolnshire, England. The Puritans quickly established a stable society; in just 5 years after they arrived, they established the Boston Latin School (America’s first public school), and Harvard College (America’s first college). Boston was the largest settlement in British North America, and was at the forefront of the American Revolution in the 1770’s. Bostonians committed the first acts that would initiate America’s fight for freedom; the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and several of the Revolution’s most influential battles took place in or near the city. Boston was also home to renowned historic figure Paul Revere, who made the famous midnight ride to Lexington on April 18th/19th, 1775. Revere’s house still stands as a landmark of Boston’s early patriotism.

In the many years since the Revolution, Boston has never ceased to be a thriving industrial and cultural center of the United States. From international trade to manufacturing to the recent boom in high-tech industry, Boston’s economy has remained healthy and strong. The city’s top-ranked colleges and universities contribute greatly to its success by not only providing thousands of jobs themselves, but also by attracting high profile information technology and biotechnology companies such as Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Genzyme, and Millipore. It was reported in 2003 that students enrolled in Boston’s colleges and universities contribute an average of $4.8 billion to Boston’s economy every single year. Boston is a major publishing center; the city is home to companies Houghton Mifflin, Bedford-St. Martin’s Press, Beacon Press, and Little, Brown and Company. Other major companies that are headquartered in Boston are Liberty Mutual, Gillette, Teradyne, and New Balance. And despite the arrival of these new commercial industries, the Port of Boston remains a major East Coast seaport—it is the oldest fishing port in the Western Hemisphere, continuously-operated for over 350 years.

Boston’s historic reputation combined with its status as a world-class city makes Boston a popular tourist destination for people all over the world. Every year over 12 million visitors come to take part in Boston’s museums, historic landmarks, cultural facilities, and sporting events. Boston is steeped in sports tradition; the city is home to championship-winning teams the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics. Every year in April, Boston hosts the 26.2 mile Boston Marathon, which is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's most prestigious racing events.

But Boston is not only an exciting place to visit; it is a great place to call home. For those wanting to relocate to Boston, real estate in Boston includes a wide variety of housing options in the city’s 20 distinct neighborhoods, from the diverse neighborhood of East Boston to the prestigious Back Bay area. Homes in Boston come in wide selection of styles, sizes and prices, from a mere $60,000 to over $13 million. The average price for single family homes in Boston is currently around $485,000, while the average price for condominiums in Boston is $680,000. There are many luxury condominiums in downtown Boston that are typically priced at $1 million or more, but feature impeccable design and modern amenities all within the city’s thriving commercial center. Whether you are looking for an urban getaway in one of Boston’s high rises, or a family home away from the hustle of downtown, the real estate market in Boston has got you covered.

© 2008 Reliance Relocation Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Contributed by: Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®

---

Fenway an exciting area!  learn more...

Back Bay a beautiful area  learn more...

Beacon Hill a walk through history  learn more...

South End a friendly community!  learn more...

Charlestown, a historic treasure  learn more...