Living in Somerville, MA offers a vibrant urban lifestyle with a strong sense of community and cultural diversity. Located just north of Boston, Somerville is known for its innovative spirit, artistic flair, and dynamic neighborhoods. The city’s commitment to arts and culture is evident in its many galleries, theaters, and public art installations, making it a hub of creativity in the Greater Boston area.
Somerville’s dining scene is eclectic and exciting, offering a range of options from ethnic eateries to farm-to-table restaurants. The city’s Davis Square is a popular destination, featuring a mix of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The annual Somerville Arts Council’s ArtBeat festival is a highlight of the year, celebrating the city’s creative community with performances, art displays, and interactive activities.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Somerville provides plenty of opportunities for recreation. The city’s parks, including Prospect Hill Park and the Somerville Community Path, offer scenic spots for walking, biking, and enjoying the outdoors. The nearby Mystic River provides additional opportunities for boating, fishing, and exploring the natural beauty of the area.
Somerville is also known for its strong sense of community and progressive values. The city hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands and the Fluff Festival, which bring residents together to celebrate and engage with their community. The local schools and educational institutions, including Tufts University, make Somerville an attractive place for families and students alike.
For those considering a move to Massachusetts, Somerville offers a unique blend of urban energy, cultural vibrancy, and community spirit. Whether you're drawn by its creative atmosphere, outdoor activities, or proximity to Boston, living in Somerville, MA provides a fulfilling and dynamic lifestyle.
Amenities
Conveniently located, the area boasts a variety of amenities, including grocery stores, shopping, coffee shops and entertainment options all within walking distance.
Commute
The high commute score in this area could imply easy access to public transportation, as well as shorter-than-average commute times to your workplace.
Employment
With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.
Health & Safety
Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.
Ratings
According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.
Cost Of Living
This area is known for its high cost of living, which means you should anticipate higher costs for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries, and health care.
Somerville, Massachusetts is a moderately-sized city with a population of 84,018 people. In Somerville, there are 20,378 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. According to the most recent Census, 76% of Somerville residents are White, 10% Asian and 6% Black. The median age of all Somerville residents is 32, which is well below the national average. This is a good indication that this city could be ideal for a younger demographic. Somerville is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 35% married, this city falls well below the national average. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Somerville offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 32 minutes.
Living in Somerville can be a good experience for anyone relocating to the town. Having said that, in the state of Massachusetts, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. To help you find the best places to live in and around Somerville, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, commute, education, housing and more.
The livability score in Somerville is 84 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 98th percentile of all cities across America. Based on this score, Somerville would be considered a very livable city! Another exciting tidbit, is that Somerville ranks better than 90% of all US cities! Based on the grades for each individual category, Somerville has been rewarded with high marks for crime (B), education (B) and housing (B-). On a more negative note, Somerville does not have favorable grades for the following: cost of living (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
If you're considering living in Somerville, it comes with numerous advantages, particularly in the form of an extensive selection of local amenities. These amenities play a pivotal role in elevating the quality of life within this vibrant community. From easily accessible grocery stores, to conveniently located fitness facilities, a diverse range of dining establishments and a multitude of shopping options, Somerville provides a comprehensive array of resources for its residents. This ensures the effortless fulfillment of your daily needs and creates ample opportunities for relaxation and recreation. The convenience of these local offerings greatly contributes to the overall appeal of the area, making it an enticing destination for those in search of convenience, diversity, and a gratifying lifestyle. If you're contemplating a move, the abundance of local amenities could very well be a defining characteristic of this area.
The Somerville unemployment rate of 2.5% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Somerville has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Somerville is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Somerville come in at $1,304,939, which is 109% higher than the Massachusetts average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Somerville, the home price to income ratio is 8.5, which is 44.1% higher than the Massachusetts average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Somerville | Massachusetts | National |
| Average one way commute | 32min | 29min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 34.1% | 71.1% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 4.9% | 7.5% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 29.5% | 9.9% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 6.6% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 10.7% | 4.9% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 12.7% | 4.7% | 4.6% |
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