The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 02163 sells for about $1,071,027, or $785 per square foot.
Prices are up +3.2% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 32 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $3,501 a month.
ZIP 02163 — Boston
The 02163 housing market remains highly stable due to its unique status as a university-anchored enclave with limited inventory. Demand continues to outpace supply, keeping prices firm despite broader regional economic fluctuations. The market is driven primarily by institutional demand and the high concentration of academic professionals.
This ZIP is ideal for academic professionals, graduate students, and commuters who prioritize proximity to major universities and transit access over large-scale suburban living.
Median prices moved up 3.2% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 32 days on market with 2.8 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
13% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 99.2% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 8.2% · poverty 33.8% — a mixed stability profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 3.5%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 3.5%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 02163, Suffolk County, MA
The area experiences low levels of property crime consistent with its status as a university-affiliated enclave, though it remains subject to broader urban trends in the Boston metropolitan area.
The ZIP is served by the Boston Public Schools system, which offers a mix of specialized exam schools and neighborhood-based institutions with varying performance metrics.
The area is located in a coastal urban environment with moderate exposure to storm surge and flood risks, typical of the Charles River basin and Boston harbor proximity.
Economic momentum is heavily anchored by the presence of Harvard Business School and proximity to the Kendall Square innovation hub, driving consistent demand for institutional and residential development.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Massachusetts) — Massachusetts Local Property Tax: Ad valorem tax calculated as (Municipal Budget / Total Assessed Value of all taxable property) = Tax Rate per $1,000 of assessed value. Assessments must be at 100% of full and fair cash (market) value.
Residents benefit from high walkability and direct access to the MBTA Red Line, providing a short transit commute to downtown Boston and Cambridge employment centers.
The area features extensive access to the Charles River Esplanade for walking and cycling, proximity to Harvard Square's retail and dining, and numerous historic campus green spaces.
The rental market is characterized by high demand and low vacancy rates, driven by a transient student and faculty population, with limited supply of new residential units.
The economy is dominated by higher education and research, with Harvard University serving as the primary employer and economic driver for the immediate area.
The area is served by the MBTA Red Line (Harvard Station) and multiple bus routes, facilitating efficient transit connectivity to the broader Boston metro area.
Development is strictly regulated by the Boston Planning & Development Agency, with a focus on preserving historic character while accommodating institutional growth.
The City of Boston Assessing Department manages property valuations, utilizing annual market analysis to determine assessments for tax purposes.
Parcels are subject to City of Boston municipal taxes and are within the jurisdiction of the Boston Public Schools district.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by the area's urban density and proximity to the Charles River, with standard coverage requirements for flood zones.
Not applicable for ZIP level.
Not applicable for ZIP level.
Not applicable for ZIP level.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ACS 2022 ZCTA profiles.
- Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum4.63.6 mi
- F1 Arcade Boston4.54 mi
- Museum of Illusions Boston4.53.4 mi
- Boda Borg Boston4.74.9 mi
- K1 Speed Boston-Wilmington4.213.5 mi
- Fenway Park4.81.8 mi
- TD Garden4.62.9 mi
- Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center4.54 mi
- Topgolf Boston - Canton3.912 mi
- MGM Music Hall at Fenway4.41.8 mi
- Fenway Park4.81.8 mi
- Boston Common4.72.9 mi
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston4.82.3 mi
- New England Aquarium4.43.6 mi
- Harvard Square4.60.5 mi
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston4.82.3 mi
- Boston Public Library4.82.4 mi
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum4.72.2 mi
- Museum of Science4.72.5 mi
- Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum4.63.6 mi
- Boston Common4.72.9 mi
- Franklin Park Zoo4.44.5 mi
- Public Garden4.82.7 mi
- Charles River Esplanade4.82.2 mi
- Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University4.84.1 mi
- Community Boating, Inc.4.62.4 mi
- MIT Sailing Pavilion4.91.7 mi
- Atlantic Wharf4.63.5 mi
- Constitution Marina4.63.1 mi
- Charlestown Marina4.83.6 mi
- Topgolf Boston - Canton3.912 mi
- Granite Links Golf Club4.69.2 mi
- Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course3.94.4 mi
- George Wright4.56.8 mi
- Newton Commonwealth Golf Course43 mi
- Encore Boston Harbor4.33.2 mi
- Burlington Mall4.49.4 mi
- Prudential Center Boston4.52.3 mi
- Quincy Market4.53.3 mi
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace4.53.3 mi
- Boston Logan International Airport4.15.6 mi
- Park Shuttle & Fly4.55.6 mi
- The Lounge3.45.3 mi
- DaCoopas Pizza4.14.8 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Anchor institution defining the character and economy of the ZIP.
Major waterfront greenway providing extensive trails and recreational space.
Historic commercial hub located immediately adjacent to the ZIP.
Key-figure check: median price diverges 21.1% from the nearest retained anchor (published ten-year series (2025)) — beyond the 12.5% tolerance; an automated validation case is open and the value publishes pending its verdict. Research outlier held out — this pass returned a median of $845,000 (21.1% off the retained reading), contradicting every independent anchor; the prior reading stands pending corroboration. Validation: the flagged $845,000 (-21.1% vs the published ten-year series (2025)) could not be independently corroborated and was reverted to the prior cycle value pending review; the case is under review in the Command Center.