Apartments to rent in Charlestown, Boston

Charlestown generally reads as a mixed-safety Boston neighborhood: many blocks (Monument Square, the Navy Yard, Main Street) are well-patrolled and popular with families and visitors, while other edges near major corridors and transit hubs report more property crime and periodic incidents. Residents should use normal urban precautions at night, lock vehicles, and be mindful in the Sullivan Square/industrial corridor. Boston Police maintain district reporting and actively publish incident logs; third-party crime-analytics sites note property crime levels above some suburban areas but overall patterns comparable with inner-city Boston neighborhoods.

Overview

Charlestown blends deep Revolutionary-era history (Bunker Hill Monument, the USS Constitution) with modern waterfront redevelopment. The peninsula offers walkable streets, a compact Main Street dining scene and easy access to downtown via the Orange Line, buses and a seasonal MBTA ferry. Housing is a mix of preserved brick rowhouses and newer condo developments in the Navy Yard; rents and home values run above the Boston average.

Key Features

• Historic character: Bunker Hill, Monument Square and the Freedom Trail anchor the neighborhood’s identity.
• Waterfront access: Charlestown Navy Yard, Harborwalk and USS Constitution provide recreation and scenic routes.
• Transit options: Orange Line access (Community College / Sullivan Square), several bus lines, and a Navy Yard ferry to Long Wharf.
• Dining & local life: Main Street and City Square host popular restaurants, bakeries and neighborhood bars.

Housing Snapshot

• Mix of historic rowhouses, mid-rise condos and recent waterfront developments (Navy Yard).
• Rents and purchase prices are above Boston averages — competitive for one- and two-bedroom units.
• Parking is limited; many residents rely on transit and walking.