USA · Massachusetts
Student apartments in Boston
The Boston metro hosts MIT, Harvard, Boston University, Northeastern, BC, Tufts, and dozens more. Heavy Indian, Chinese, and Korean grad student populations cluster in Cambridge, Allston, and Brookline.
Top neighborhoods for international students
Cambridge
Cambridge
Cambridge is home to Harvard and MIT. Harvard Square, Central Square, and Kendall Square are all packed with international graduate students.
$1,700 – $5,500 /mo
Boston
Somerville
Somerville (Davis, Porter, Union Square) is the cheaper Cambridge-adjacent option for Harvard and MIT grad students. Heavy student population.
$1,500 – $3,800 /mo
Boston
Allston
Allston is Boston's de facto student housing district — huge BU off-campus population, plus Harvard grad students who want cheaper rent. Heavily Asian student community.
$1,100 – $2,800 /mo
Boston
Brookline
Brookline is the upscale option west of BU, with great schools, the Green Line all along Beacon Street, and quieter than Allston. Popular with MBA and PhD students.
$1,700 – $4,500 /mo
Boston
Fenway / Kenmore
Fenway / Kenmore is sandwiched between BU and Northeastern. Modern high-rises, walkable to two campuses, and steps from Fenway Park.
$1,900 – $4,200 /mo
Boston
Mission Hill
Mission Hill is the cheaper Northeastern option, just behind campus. Heavy Northeastern grad student population, especially Indian master's students.
$1,300 – $3,000 /mo
Boston
Back Bay
Back Bay is upscale Boston — brownstones, Newbury Street, the Prudential Center. A premium choice for grad students who want central + commuter-friendly.
$2,200 – $5,500 /mo
Cambridge
Central Square
Central Square sits between MIT and Harvard on the Red Line — popular with international PhD and grad students for the price + walkability.
$1,600 – $4,000 /mo
Universities in Boston
Harvard
Cambridge, IL
Harvard's main campus in Cambridge. Large international graduate population — especially Harvard Business School, Kennedy School, GSAS, and Harvard Law.
Top nationalities: China, India, Canada
MIT
Cambridge, IL
MIT in Kendall Square, Cambridge. One in three grad students is international. Sloan, EECS, and Mathematics see especially large Chinese and Indian populations.
Top nationalities: China, India, South Korea
BU
Boston, IL
BU's Charles River campus stretches along Commonwealth Ave. One of the largest international student populations in the US — Allston is BU's de facto student housing district.
Top nationalities: China, India, South Korea
Northeastern
Boston, IL
Northeastern's main campus in Fenway. Particularly heavy Indian master's enrollment in Khoury College (CS) and the College of Engineering — co-op programs draw international applicants.
Top nationalities: India, China, South Korea