Charlestown, Boston, MA—02129
Real Estate Data & Market Trends
Key Metrics at a Glance
Home Price Trends — Charlestown, Boston, MA
As of Oct '25, the median home price in Charlestown, Boston, MA is $984,000, with a year-over-year change of 1.5%. This indicates that home prices in Charlestown, Boston, MA are increasing. According to Zillow, the 1-year price projection is 1.1%, suggesting an increase housing market in the next year.
Cost per Home Type
| Home Type | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
All Homes | $984,000 | 1.5% |
| Single Family | $1,324,000 | 4.8% |
| Condos | $883,000 | 2.2% |
Cost per Home Size
| Home Size | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
1 Bed | $631,000 | 0.5% |
2 Bed | $947,000 | 2.3% |
3 Bed | $1,467,000 | 4.9% |
4 Bed | $1,871,000 | 5.3% |
| 5 Bed | N/A | N/A |
% of Housing Stock
Rental Trends — Charlestown, Boston, MA
As of July '25, Rentcast reports the average rent in Charlestown, Boston, MA is $3,800, with a year-over-year rent change of -2.3%. Per bedroom, the median rent as of July '25 in Charlestown, Boston, MA is studios: $2,620, 1-bedrooms: $3,160, 2-bedrooms: $4,390, 3-bedrooms: $4,970, 4-bedrooms: $5,620. The most common rental property sizes in Charlestown, Boston, MA are 2-bedroom and 1-bedroom, accounting for 37.9% and 34.7% of the rental stock.
| Type | Median Rent | Average Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,500 | $3,800 |
| Studio Rent | $2,710 | $2,620 |
| 1 Bed Rent | $3,120 | $3,160 |
| 2 Bed Rent | $4,200 | $4,390 |
| 3 Bed Rent | $4,820 | $4,970 |
| 4 Bed Rent | $5,150 | $5,620 |
% of Rental Stock
Property Listings — Charlestown, Boston, MA
As of Oct '25, Realtor.com reports that the median days on market for a home in Charlestown, Boston, MA is 27. This is a increase of 11.0% from last year, suggesting that homes are sitting on the market longer than last year. The percentage of listed homes with a reduced price is 29.0%, representing a large inventory and a lot of supply pressure on home prices.
| Metric | Zip Code Average | Year over Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
Median Listing Price | $954,000 | -18.0% |
Listing Count | 48 | -15.0% |
| Listings as % of Homes | 0.3% | -15.0% |
Days on Market | 27 | 11.0% |
Demographics — Charlestown, Boston, MA
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Charlestown, Boston, MA has a population of 20,000, which has increased by 3.0% over the past 5 years. Charlestown, Boston, MA is a moderately popular place for families, as children make up 20.7% of the population. The area has a highly educated workforce, with 71.4% of adult residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are some residents working remotely, with 24.1% reporting working from home.
| Metric | Latest Census | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
Population | 20,000 | 3.0% |
% Under 18 | 20.7% | 6.2% |
% Seniors | 13.2% | 32.0% |
% WFH | 24.1% | 447.7% |
% w/ College Degree | 71.4% | 6.2% |
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Charlestown, Boston, MA is a predominantly white area, with 71.3% of the population identifying as white. The white population has shrunk by 2.6% in the last 5 years. The second most common race or ethnicity in Charlestown, Boston, MA is hispanic, making up 9.6% of the population. Foreign-born residents account for 13.0% of the population in Charlestown, Boston, MA, and this percentage has decreased by 17.2% as of the ACS Survey 5 years prior, suggesting fewer immigrants are calling the area home.
Race and Ethnicity
| Metric | Latest Census | 5-Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
% White | 71.3% | -2.6% |
% Black | 5.5% | -27.6% |
% Hispanic | 9.6% | -18.6% |
% Asian | 8.6% | 7.5% |
% Foreign Born | 13.0% | -17.2% |
Mortgage and Risk — Charlestown, Boston, MA
According to HUD data as of 2023, there were 298 mortgage originations in Charlestown, Boston, MA, of which 98.0% of loans were conventional mortgages. The average loan-to-value was 61.0%, with 6.0% above 90% LTV (normal). This implies small mortgage risk in Charlestown, Boston, MA. Investor activity is low, as 4.0% of loans were by investors. 5.0% of loans were cash-out refinances, suggesting few homeowners are tapping equity.
Mortgages
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
Total Loan Originations | 298 |
% Conventional Loans | 98.0% |
% Government Loans | 2.0% |
% Investor Loans | 4.0% |
% Second Loans | 1.0% |
% Cash Out Refinance | 5.0% |
Loan Activity
Rentals and Section 8 — Charlestown, Boston, MA
As of 2024, the percent of homes in Charlestown, Boston, MA under the Section 8 program is 12.5%. This is considered low, suggesting that the neighborhood is sparsely composed of Section 8 homes. Section 8 opportunity is good when HUD pays more than market rent. 1-bedroom units appear to be good home sizes to consider for Section 8 housing in Charlestown, Boston, MA, because HUD payments exceed market rent, while 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom units do not.
Section 8 Market Size
Total Units under HUD | 1,706 |
Total Units Section 8 | 591 |
% Rentals under Section 8 | 12.5% |
% Occupied Section 8 | 97.8% |
Section 8 Opportunity
| Home Size | HUD Premium | Market Rent | Max HUD Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $130 | $3,120 | $3,250 |
| 2 Bedroom | -$350 | $4,200 | $3,850 |
| 3 Bedroom | -$180 | $4,820 | $4,640 |
| 4 Bedroom | -$50 | $5,150 | $5,100 |
Affordability — Charlestown, Boston, MA
Home Price to Income Ratio
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
| Home Price to Income Ratio | 5.7 |
| Median Home Price | $984,000 |
| Median Household Income | $157,000 |