Apartments to rent in Chinatown, Boston

Chinatown is downtown Boston’s dense, walkable Asian‑American neighborhood and cultural hub. Centered around Beach Street and Washington Street and lying just south of Downtown Crossing, Chinatown is covered primarily by ZIP code 02111. The area mixes restaurants, markets, compact apartment buildings and newer condo developments; it’s exceptionally walkable and very well served by MBTA lines and the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

Nearby Neighborhoods Comparison

NeighborhoodsCostSchoolsSafetyWalkability
Chinatown High Good Safe Excellent
Leather District High Good Safe Excellent
Downtown / Downtown Crossing High Fair Safe Excellent
Bay Village Average Good Safe Excellent
South End Average Good Safe Good
Excellent/Good
Average
Poor/Less Safe

Source: Zillow (ZIP 02111 market data)

Chinatown, Boston Rental Prices

Studio
$2,500 – $3,600
1 bedroom
$2,200 – $4,200
2 bedroom
$3,500 – $6,000
3 bedroom
$5,000 – $9,000

Source: Zillow (ZIP 02111 market data)

Rentals available in Chinatown, Boston

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Chinatown, Boston Schools & Education

Top Public Schools

Josiah Quincy Elementary School

⭐ 6/10 GreatSchools
885 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111
🧭 In‑neighborhood (in the Josiah Quincy complex at 885 Washington St).

Quincy Upper School (Josiah Quincy Upper)

⭐ 3/10 GreatSchools / Boston Public Schools reporting
900 Washington St / 152 Arlington St area, Boston, MA 02111
🧭 In/adjacent — new upper school campus opened 2024–25 at 900 Washington St.

Top Private Schools

Park Street School

⭐ Not rated School listings
67 Brimmer St (Beacon Hill area)
🧭 ~0.6 mi

The Advent School

⭐ Not rated Private school listings
Brimmer St / Beacon Hill area
🧭 ~0.6–0.8 mi

Source: Boston Public Schools / GreatSchools / City of Boston

Chinatown, Boston Safety & Crime Overview

Safe

Chinatown sits inside Boston Police District A‑1 (Downtown/Beacon Hill/North End/Chinatown). Crime in the neighborhood trends similar to downtown — property crimes and thefts are the most common calls given heavy foot traffic, while violent crime rates are in line with the district average. The city’s open data crime feed and local reporting show A‑1 experiences seasonal fluctuations; residents and businesses report hotspots around late‑night theater and entertainment corridors, and the city and BPD maintain foot and bicycle patrols in the area.

Source: Boston Police / City of Boston crime incident reports (Analyze Boston open data)

Chinatown, Boston Walkability, Transit & Bike Scores

Walk Score ~99
Walker's Paradise
Transit Score ~100
Rider's Paradise (multiple MBTA lines and Silver Line access)
Bike Score ~82
Very Bikeable
<10 min
To Downtown (Downtown Crossing / Government Center) by T or on foot — often under 10 minutes.

Source: Walk Score (Chinatown / Leather District sample addresses)

Chinatown, Boston Summary

Overview

Chinatown is Boston’s compact downtown Asian cultural district centered on Beach Street, Washington Street and the edges of the Theatre District. It blends dense residential housing, restaurants and specialty markets with major institutions like Tufts Medical Center and the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The neighborhood is exceptionally walkable and transit-rich but faces typical downtown tradeoffs — smaller apartments, limited parking, and active streets.

Key Features

  • Dining destination: One of New England’s primary hubs for Chinese, Vietnamese and pan‑Asian restaurants and bakeries.
  • Transit & walkability: Walk Score ~99, with Orange Line (Chinatown), Red Line (Downtown Crossing) and nearby Silver Line/South Station access.
  • Healthcare hub: Tufts Medical Center sits at the neighborhood edge, bringing medical jobs and services within minutes.
  • Cultural gateway: The iconic Chinatown Gate and small parks/Greenway plazas anchor community events and festivals.

Housing Snapshot

  • Mostly apartments and condominium units; small unit footprints are common.
  • Rents in ZIP 02111 are above the national average and among Boston’s pricier downtown ZIPs.
  • Limited street parking; residents rely on transit/walking and downtown garages.