Apartments to rent in Longwood Medical Area, Boston
Longwood Medical Area (LMA) is Boston’s dense medical and research district centered on Longwood Avenue, home to Harvard Medical School, major hospitals and multiple graduate institutions. The area is extremely transit-accessible and walkable, and is commonly associated with ZIPs 02115, 02120 and parts of 02215.
Nearby Neighborhoods Comparison
| Neighborhoods | Cost | Schools | Safety | Walkability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longwood Medical Area | High | Excellent | Safe | Excellent |
| Fenway | High | Good | Safe | Excellent |
| Mission Hill | Average | Fair | Safe | Good |
| Back Bay | High | Good | Safe | Excellent |
| Kenmore / Kenmore Square | High | Good | Safe | Excellent |
Source: Market listings (local listings & aggregation sites)
Longwood Medical Area, Boston Rental Prices
Source: Market listings (local listings & aggregation sites)
Rentals available in Longwood Medical Area, Boston
Longwood Medical Area, Boston Schools & Education
Top Public Schools
Fenway High School
Mission Hill K-8 (Mission Hill School)
Top Private Schools
Harvard Medical School (graduate & professional)
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences (MCPHS)
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Source: Boston Public Schools, GreatSchools, institutional websites
Longwood Medical Area, Boston Safety & Crime Overview
Longwood is generally considered safer than many Boston neighborhoods — the area is busy during the day with hospital staff, students and patients and benefits from hospital security and regular MBTA foot traffic. Property theft reports (theft from vehicles, package theft) are the most common complaints; violent crime is lower than in several nearby neighborhoods but occasional incidents near hospital entrances or Brigham Circle have occurred. Residents and staff are advised to use common-sense urban precautions (lock cars, be alert at night, use lit routes).
Source: Neighborhood crime & reporting sites (Niche), local reporting (WBUR), institutional advisories
Longwood Medical Area, Boston Walkability, Transit & Bike Scores
Source: WalkScore.com, MBTA station listings, institutional directions pages
Longwood Medical Area, Boston Summary
Overview
Longwood Medical Area is Boston’s world-class medical, research and teaching cluster centered on Longwood Avenue. It’s highly walkable and exceptionally transit-connected, with a daytime population dominated by clinicians, researchers, students and patients. Housing is expensive relative to city averages, but the neighborhood offers immediate access to major hospitals, academic institutions and the Emerald Necklace parks.
Key Features
- Medical & research hub: Home to Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s, Boston Children’s and multiple research institutes.
- Transit & walkability: Outstanding walk score and multiple Green Line stops make commuting downtown and across the city easy.
- Parks nearby: Easy access to Back Bay Fens and Riverway (Emerald Necklace) for outdoor recreation.
- Institutional employment: Large, stable employment base (hospitals, universities) supporting rental demand.
Housing Snapshot
- High demand from medical staff and graduate students; many rental units targeted to professionals.
- Limited street parking; institutional parking garages available at a premium.
- Mix of older triple-deckers and newer institutional housing/high-rise apartments.