Living in Somerville, Boston

Monthly rent in USD ($). First-hand contracts come straight from the landlord or housing company. Second-hand contracts are sublets, and they usually cost more.

Within AffordWhere's Boston dataset, a one-bedroom here averages about $2,950/month — close to the city median, and mid-priced of the 9 areas we track. Two-bedrooms run $3,300 - $3,800/month and three-bedrooms $4,000 - $4,700/month on second-hand contracts. At 20 minutes to the center by metro, it sits about as central as most Boston areas in the set. On safety it rates 4/5, among the lower-rated in the city. Based on its rent, commute, and the hipster, diverse, affordable tags, it may suit renters weighing rent against commute.

Weighing options? For cheaper rent, see Dorchester. For a shorter commute, see Beacon Hill.

Rent figures reflect official statistics compiled January 2026. See data sources.

OpenStreetMap maps Sullivan Square as the nearest metro stop, Caldwell Street Play Area as nearby green space and Stop & Shop as the nearest supermarket around the Somerville reference point. A school is also mapped within walking distance. It also shows many cafés and restaurants mapped within about 700m of that point.

Amenity data from OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). The extracted amenity dataset is published under the same license.

How much is rent in Somerville, Boston?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Somerville costs $2,700 - $3,200/month (second-hand contract) or $2,400 - $2,800/month (first-hand). A 2-bedroom ranges from $3,300 - $3,800/month, and a 3-bedroom from $4,000 - $4,700/month.

Is Somerville safe for expats?

Somerville has a safety rating of 4/5 (Safe) on our scale. That is one of the higher ratings on the 1-5 scale; as always, check specific streets and visit at different times before signing a lease.

How long is the commute from Somerville to Boston center?

The commute from Somerville to Boston city center takes approximately 20 minutes by metro.

What is Somerville like to live in?

Hip alternative to Cambridge. Davis Square nightlife, diverse food scene, and artist community. In our data it is tagged as hipster, diverse, affordable.