Living in Boston

Where Our Students Live

Boston is an academic and medical hub! It is a great place to live and an easy city to navigate, with most destinations being a short walk from each other. Boston's public transportation makes getting around town and surrounding areas easy and accessible.

NECO is located in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston. We are within walking distance of many restaurants, stores, parks, and entertainment. With a number of famous historical sites, museums, sports teams, and theater venues, there's always something to explore! You can choose to study at the historic Boston Public Library or take a walk or run along the Charles River behind our campus.

Boston is a city comprised of 23 neighborhoods. Some students live near our Back Bay campus, while others choose one of the nearby neighborhoods, like Brighton or Allston. Other nearby cities, such as Cambridge or Brookline, are also easily accessible to campus. The City of Boston website also provides more information about all of the neighborhoods.

See below about popular areas where our students live

Popular Neighborhoods

Boston: Back Bay $$$

Home of NECO: Many students live here & walk to class in this historic neighborhood.
Includes: Boston Marathon finish line, Boston Public Library, and the famous Newbury Street.
Rent ranges from $1800/month for a studio to $2600/month for a two-bedroom apartment.

Boston: Fenway/Kenmore $$$

Next to Back Bay and within a 15-30 minute walk to campus. It has easy access to the MBTA subway Green line.
It is home to Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, restaurants, and nightlife.
Rent ranges from $1800/month for a studio to $2600 for a two-bedroom apartment.

Boston: South End $$$

Primarily a residential area with Victorian brownstones, but includes restaurants and shopping.
Located next to Back Bay and within a 20-30 walk minute to NECO. It also has access to the MBTA Orange subway line.
Rent ranges from $1800/month for a studio to $2600/month for a two-bedroom apartment.

Boston: Brighton/Allston $$

Brighton/Allston has a large student population with unique coffee shops, restaurants, and boutiques.
Accessible by public transit, with multiple bus lines and the MBTA subway Green line stops near NECO within 30-40 minutes.
Rent ranges from $1700/month for a studio to $2200/month for a two-bedroom apartment.

Brookline: Coolidge Corner & Washington Square $$

Located in the neighboring city of Brookline, the neighborhoods are mostly residential, with small boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants.
The MBTA subway Green line runs through both of these neighborhoods and arrives at stops near NECO within 20-30 minutes.
Rent ranges from $1700/month for a studio to $2200/month for a two-bedroom apartment.

Cambridge: Harvard & Central Square $$

Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard and Central Squares are residential areas that are home to unique restaurants, parks, and theaters.
Public transportation is widely available. The #1 bus line runs through both neighborhoods and stops one block away from NECO within 25 minutes.
Rent ranges from $1700/month for a studio to $2200/month for a two-bedroom apartment.

Getting Around

Boston is known for being a walkable city. It has an international airport, a public transportation system, and an ever-expanding set of bike lanes with a bike-share program. Many restaurants, sites, libraries, gyms, and shopping are all within close proximity of NECO. The Boston Marathon comes within a few blocks of our Beacon Street campus. Even Cambridge is a quick walk across the bridge. In addition to our page here, the City of Boston website has a comprehensive guide to travel around the city.

MBTA Public Transit System

The MBTA, commonly known as the "T," is Boston's public transit system. It consists of trains and buses that run all over the city. Most students choose to live in neighborhoods that have easy access to the MBTA system. The subway is mostly underground and is comprised of four lines that are designated by different colors: Green, Red, Blue, and Orange.

The Green Line is the main line through downtown Boston. It is closest to the Beacon Street campus, with stops at Copley Square and Hynes Convention Center. The Green Line has four branches that provide easy access to the Fenway/Kenmore, Brighton/Allston, and Brookline neighborhoods.
The Red Line is the main line for Cambridge and heads southeast down to the town of Braintree. There are a couple of stops on the red line that stop in Boston proper and it connects with the green line at Park Street Station.
The Orange Line begins north of Boston in Melrose and heads southwest to the Jamaica Plain neighborhood. It stops at the Massachusetts Avenue and Back Bay Stations, which are about a 20-minute walk to NECO's Beacon Street campus.
The Blue Line runs northeast of Boston from the city of Revere to the northeastern part of Boston proper. The blue connects with the green line at the Government Center station.

In addition to trains, there is a comprehensive bus system throughout the city. The #1 Bus has the closest stop to NECO, with other bus lines that stop in nearby Copley Square.

A one-way subway fare is currently $2.40, and students can purchase a discounted 4-month pass through NECO at an 11% discount off the full price. Other transit fares are listed on the MBTA website.

We created a map to help you visualize the different train lines and the most popular areas where students live. Additionally, the MBTA website has a great trip planner feature to help with your transportation needs.

Biking

Bike lanes are continually being added throughout Boston and the surrounding towns and many people use them for commuting. The Beacon Street campus has a bike rack for student use. There are also bike paths that extend for miles in many directions around the city and beyond. The Bluebikes public bike-share program offers an alternative for cyclists who don’t own a bike: 4,000 bikes for rent at nearly 400 stations in Boston and nearby cities - and with docking stations close to NECO. Check out the Bluebikes website for more information!

Cars and Parking

Most students do not bring cars, and student parking is not available at the college during the day. If you are planning to bring your car, make sure to read about resident parking in the city. Additionally, there are many parking garages around the city, and metered street parking is available through the ParkBoston app. The car-sharing service, Zipcar, is also available for those who may only need to drive occasionally.

Ride Shares and Taxis

Ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft are readily available to provide direct transportation to your destination. Services can be booked through their respective apps. Taxis are also available throughout the city.

Explore Boston

Each year, over 20 million visitors come to Boston to experience its rich history, arts, education, sports, and natural beauty. Home to more than 35 colleges and universities with over 150,000 students, Boston is a vibrant city. Just beyond the city, neighborhoods like Harvard Square in Cambridge and Coolidge Corner in Brookline are fun to explore and accessible via public transportation.

Events and Attractions

In Boston, there is no lack of sites to see and places to explore. Check out the Boston Calendar to see what's happening around the city, and the Boston USA website for a comprehensive list of activities.

Festivals and Events: The City of Boston offers many festivals and events throughout the year, including the Boston Pop Fireworks Spectacular on July 4th.

Boston Harborwalk: You can walk along the Boston Harborwalk and take in historical landmarks, contemporary buildings, and street performers at Faneuil Hall, in the North End, and in Christopher Columbus Park.

Parks & Recreation: To relax and unwind after a long day or simply to enjoy Boston's landscape, visit the many parks and green spaces throughout the city, including the Boston Common and Public Garden, right near NECO's Beacon Street campus.

History & Walking Tours: The City of Boston offers many free walking tours to learn more about the history of the city and the country. The Freedom Trail and visits to the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill Memorial are also available for free.

Professional Sports: Boston is home to professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams. The Red Sox play baseball at Fenway Park, which is just a 15-minute walk from NECO. The Red Sox offer discounted tickets for college students. The TD Garden in the North End hosts the Boston Celtics basketball team and the Boston Bruins hockey team. Finally, the New England Patriots play football at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, which is about 45 minutes away from the city.