USA · Massachusetts
Student apartments in Boston
The Boston metro hosts MIT, Harvard, BU, Northeastern, BC, Tufts, and dozens more. International graduate students cluster in Cambridge, Allston, and Brookline.
Top neighborhoods for international students
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
Somerville
Somerville (Davis, Porter, Union Square) is the cheaper Cambridge-adjacent option for Harvard and MIT grad students. Heavy student population, Tufts is in Davis.
$1,500 – $3,800 /mo
Allston
Allston is Boston's de facto student housing district — huge BU off-campus population, plus Harvard grad students who want cheaper rent. Vibrant student community.
$1,100 – $2,800 /mo
Brookline
Brookline is the upscale option west of BU — great schools, the Green Line all along Beacon Street, and quieter than Allston. Popular with MBA and PhD students.
$1,700 – $4,500 /mo
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
Mission Hill
Mission Hill is the cheaper Northeastern option, just behind campus. Heavy Northeastern grad student population, especially in master's programs.
$1,300 – $3,000 /mo
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
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
Harvard's main campus in Cambridge. Large international graduate population — especially HBS, Kennedy School, GSAS, and Harvard Law.
MIT
Cambridge
MIT in Kendall Square, Cambridge. One in three grad students is international. Sloan, EECS, and Mathematics see large international cohorts.
BU
Boston
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.
Northeastern
Boston
Northeastern's main campus in Fenway. Particularly large international master's enrollment in Khoury College (CS) and the College of Engineering.
Tufts
Boston
Tufts in Medford/Somerville hosts strong international graduate populations in Fletcher School (international affairs), Engineering, and Friedman.