Somerville, MA

Somerville is one of the most densely populated cities in New England — roughly 80,000 people in just over four square miles. Immediately northwest of Boston and adjacent to Cambridge, the city has undergone one of the most dramatic market transformations in the region over the past two decades, evolving from a working-class community to one of the most expensive markets outside of Boston and Cambridge themselves.

The housing stock is overwhelmingly multi-family — triple-deckers are the dominant building type, and single-family homes are rare. The Green Line Extension, which brought subway service to previously unserved neighborhoods, has accelerated development and price appreciation in Union Square, Gilman Square, and East Somerville. Assembly Row, a major mixed-use development on a former industrial site, has created an entirely new neighborhood. For property professionals, Somerville's density, rapid price changes, and multi-family-dominated stock create a market where per-unit economics, building condition, and transit proximity are the critical variables.