Mission Hill

Mission Hill is a thriving residential neighborhood with a great sense of community. The Mission Hill Triangle Historic District, bounded by Huntington, Tremont and Worthington streets, consists of an intact core of two- to four-story brick, marble, brownstone and sandstone row houses built between the 1870s and 1890s. The attractive façades and small front yards create a pleasant greenspace along the streets. Triple-decker wood frame houses are interspersed throughout the neighborhood. A number of modern high-rise apartments form a transition zone between the adjacent Longwood Medical Center and Mission Hill.

Click Here to Search Investment Properties

The Green Line streetcar, Roxbury Crossing Orange Line and bus lines serve the neighborhood. The area is very walkable, and bike routes connect to nearby Roxbury, Fenway, Brookline and Jamaica Plain.

Mission Hill Residential Properties

The economic strength of Mission Hill has been fortified with the successful redevelopment of One Brigham Circle, a transition zone between Longwood Medical Center and Mission Hill's residential area. Plans are approved for a similar project called Parcel 25, a mixed-use area of residential units, street-level businesses and retail space, parking and community space.

The neighborhood has a vacancy rate of 7.6 percent. Most units are renter-occupied although the historic district is predominantly owner-occupied. The neighborhood's attractive residential units are appealing to those wanting close proximity to work while enjoying the benefits of a smaller, quiet neighborhood.

Mission Hill's median home value was $426,900 in May 2015, an increase of 15.9 percent over the past year. Home values are expected to rise an additional 5.9 percent during the coming year. The median sales price for the neighborhood was $330,000 as of April 2015, lower than Boston's of $457,000 for the same period.

Apartment rental rates are lower than Boston as a whole. A two-bedroom averages $2,300, lower than Boston's average of $2,600. Like most of Boston, the demand for housing in Mission Hill is high.

Choosing the Right Mission Hill Investment Property

Mission Hill presents a great opportunity for investment. The proximity to Longwood Medical Center places great demand on rental units. Projects in the planning and construction phases like Parcel 25 give investors entry into new development in a tight residential market.

Boston City Properties helps investors to analyze appreciation rates, evaluate expenses and determine annual net income for a property. We also provide listings of recently sold properties to make sure that investors understand market trends and conditions in a neighborhood. Complete the form on this page, or call us at 617-247-1933 to talk to an agent about Mission Hill investments.

Mission Hill Market Report 2017

Boasting of a strong community, Mission Hill is a primarily residential neighborhood. Known as the Mission Hill Triangle Historic District, this neighborhood includes a two- to four-story row houses. Many of these homes are made out of brownstone, marble, sandstone are brick. The core component of the neighborhood was originally constructed in the 1870s and 1890s.

This neighborhood is bordered by Tremont, Huntington and Worthington Street. Among these homes, residents will discover large green spaces with small front yards and beautiful facades. Throughout the neighborhood, there are a number of wood frame homes that are three stories high. Around Longwood Medical Center, residents will find modern high-rise apartments. Commuting options in the neighborhood include a range of bus lines, the Roxbury Crossing Orange Line and the Green Line streetcar. In addition, residents can find bike paths that connect the neighborhood to Fenway, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury and Brookline. Pedestrians can enjoy having an extremely walkable community.

The Neighborhood

This neighborhood encompasses ¾ square miles. Spanning just 15,883 residents in 2011, this neighborhood includes a number of undergraduates who attend colleges nearby. In addition, there are a number of residents who work at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard teaching hospitals, Harvard Medical School and the Longwood Medical area.

Originally, this neighborhood joined Boston in 1868. It was originally known as Parker Hill before it was renamed in later years. While the neighborhood once consisted of breweries, orchards and farms, the neighborhood, it is now a primarily residential neighborhood.

Within the Mission Hill triangle, residents will discover an architectural landmark district. Many of the single-family homes were built by the first landowners in the area. Over the years, iconic triple-deckers and brick row houses joined the community. These streets wind up and down steep hills. From many of the homes, residents can enjoy beautiful views of the Boston skyline.

At the intersection of Huntington Avenue and Tremont Street, residents will discover Brigham Circle. This section marks the transition from the medical district to the residential community. It also serves as the primary commercial area for the community. Brigham Circle is home to the neighborhood's many shops, bars, restaurants and a major grocery store.

Residential Properties

The economic focus of the neighborhood is located around the redevelopment of the transition zone around One Brigham Circle. The city has also approved plans for a project named Parcel 25. This new project will consist of a mixed-use area of businesses, retail space, residential units, community space and parking.

Currently, this community boasts of a vacancy rate of just 7.6 percent. While some of the units in the historic district are owner-occupied, most of the other units are renter-occupied. Residents are drawn to the area because of its pedestrian-friendly environment, beautiful rental units and easy access to employers. While it enjoys a convenient location, the neighborhood also enjoys a quiet, community-like ambiance.

2017 Real Estate Trends in Mission Hill

In 2017, the average property sold for $431,500. A one-bedroom home fetched a price $320,000. Since this is 45.8 percent lower than the previous year, it makes right now an excellent time to invest in the neighborhood's one-bedroom units. Meanwhile, two-bedroom homes achieved a price of $460,000. Three-bedroom homes received an average price of $565,000.

For renter-occupied units, the average rental price was $2,896. This was higher than the Boston average of $2,619 and the United States average of $1,437. The hot real estate market means that condos and new developments regularly sell out. At the Mosaic, units were still under construction in October of 2015. One year later, all of the condo units were sold out. The Mosaic had 145 units that were slated to be condos. Roughly 43 of them were designated as market-rate, and 60 units were set as affordable rentals. By October 5, 2016, the condos had closed at an average price of $928 per square foot.

The community has also started the planning and development for Parcel 25. Spanning 2.5 acres, this parcel is across from the Roxbury Crossing MBTA Station. The new development is designed to boost this area of Mission Hill. Meanwhile, One Brigham Circle was chosen as one of the first major mixed-use property developments in the Boston neighborhood for the last few decades. The One Brigham Circle cost $48 million to create. It includes a 5.5-acre, passive park known as the Kevin W. Fitzergald Park. It also consists of new business and retail centers. Currently, it includes retail shops like Walgreens, Bank of America, TFI Friday's Restaurant and the Stop & Shop Supermarket.

Part of Parcel 25 also includes the One Gurney Street development. This five-story building includes 40 affordable residences, retail and office space. The project started in 2016, but finished recently in 2017. In total, it includes 10 three-bedroom, 21 two-bedroom and 9 one-bedroom units. The office space will be the home of the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership. As an added benefit, the Roxbury Crossing MBTA Orange Line station is just across the street.

Living in Mission Hill

Surrounded by colleges and hospitals, this neighborhood is popular among individuals who work or study in the area. With Kenmore Square and Fenway Park just a mile away, it is a convenient location for residents. Long ago, the community life revolved around Mission Church. At its peak, the church hosted a grammar school, a rectory, two convents, a high school and the St. Alphonsus Hall. Today, it only retains a rectory, church and grammar school.

From this neighborhood, residents can reach surrounding areas like Brookline, Jamaica Plain and Roxbury. Over the last few years, the number of owner-occupied homes have dropped in the area. From 2003 to 2014, the number of owner-occupied dwellings dropped from 52 to 42 percent.

Today, this vibrant neighborhood is home to brick row houses, the Mission Main public housing development, a few high-rise buildings and the mixed-income Mission Park development. Because of the many college students in the area, Mission Hill has a happening nightlife. Despite the many changes to the neighborhood over the years, the area still offers a strong sense of community. Residents will find community gardens, many community groups and an annual road race.

Parking is available through a resident permit. For other commuting options, residents can use Roxbury Station's Orange Line. The Green Line makes commuting to downtown easy. Other options include the Allston-Dudley bus line and multiple bike lanes.

Click Here to Search Investment Properties