Boston Neighborhoods

Many have called the Boston Metro area, provincial. Call it what you want – it’s too complex to call it anything, frankly. The Boston area doesn’t have the grid-like design of New York or any discernable plan for that matter. I think it grew up from a network of old post roads and back roads between farming hamlets.

Now, each Boston neighborhood from Southie to the West End have their own unique flavor both literally and figuratively – and I recommend you explore them all!

As you look at a map of Boston, it may not be clear what Boston proper consists of. Let me set you straight. The City of Boston includes, Allston, Brighton, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Leather District, Mattapan, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End and West Roxbury.

Map of Boston Neighborhoods

Often, each of these neighborhoods has further divisions either geographic, cultural, or historic. For example, the Seaport District, the Financial District and SOWA. In the case of Jamaica Plain, for instance, there is Sumner Hill, Pondside, The Brewery District, Parkside, Woodbourne, Forest Hills, Central Jamaica Plain, Hyde Square, Jackson Square and Stony Brook.