Back Bay Real Estate
Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood is a desirable enclave known for its stately brownstone homes lining Commonwealth Avenue. Although largely a residential neighborhood originally constructed for Boston’s elite, Back Bay also houses architecturally significant structures such as the Boston Public Library and the Hancock Tower, Boston’s tallest skyscraper. Newbury Street and Boylston Street near the Prudential Tower offer some of Boston’s best shopping and dining options, drawing visitors from across the Greater Boston area as well as tourists. Today, Back Bay is home to 17,000 residents and along with neighboring Beacon Hill, is one of Boston’s most expensive addresses. Read more about Back Bay real estate.
Back Bay Homes & Condos For Sale
More About Back Bay Real Estate
Back Bay Location
Back Bay borders the Charles River on the north; Columbus Avenue, Huntingon Avenue, Dalton Street, and the Massachusetts Turnpike to the south; Arlington Street to Park Square on the East; and Charlesgate East on the west. The neighborhood is well-served by the MBTA Green Line with four stations as well as Back Bay station on the Orange Line, which also serves as a stop for the Commuter Rail and Amtrak.
Back Bay History
Before a 19th-century development project, Back Bay was literally a swampy bay located between Boston and Cambridge. Developers created the neighborhood by filling in some 450 acres of marshland to construct a neighborhood for Boston’s moneyed Protestant families that was removed from the overcrowding in other areas of the city. The Public Garden and Charles River helped to physically isolate the neighborhood from the rest of the city, contributing to its exclusivity. Historians estimate that in 1894, approximately 45 percent of Boston’s elite families lived in Back Bay. Henry James’ The Bostonians satirizes 19th-century Back Bay and its well-to-do residents. Other historical buildings in the neighborhood include the Arlington Street Church, the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, and the Mary Baker Eddy Library.
