Boston's Beacon Hill:

Neighborhood Information

Beacon Hill is Boston's wealthiest residential neighborhood, especially Louisburg Square and Mount Vernon Street, venues for America's wealthiest one percent. Its original homes were constructed early in the 19th century, many of which are still extant. Since Beacon Hill was originally designed for the wealthy, many of its residents have been household names throughout America since the neighborhood's creation, including today. With virtually all its original front-facing brick architecture extant, some deem it America's most aesthetically pleasing neighborhood. Folks worldwide find its narrow streets and gas street lamps particularly appealing. Although a sizable portion of its original single-family homes remains, many were subdivided into individual units.
 

Named for the beacon that once stood atop one of its three hills to warn Bostonians of impending enemy attack, much of the hills were flattened to create landfill. Beacon Hill is adjacent to the Boston Common, Boston Garden, Charles River, Massachusetts General Hospital and Cambridge Street.


The architecture of Beacon Hill varies according to which of its three sections the buildings lie. Since the Boston Common side (South Slope) was mostly designed for the city's wealthiest folks, those single-family homes are enormous. But these residents needed many domestic servants. Since their staff needed to live close by, the South Side of Beacon Hill during the 19th century mostly housed some of Boston's poorest residents, including free blacks. So many of those buildings were never single-family homes and always comprised tiny multiple units, which still exist today. But now these tiny units are expensive apartments and condominiums. Pinckney Street is the dividing line between North and South, thus the former rich and poor sections.

And of course, these wealthy folks needed horses, so livery stables had to be close. They also needed artisans and merchants. Called the Flat of Beacon Hill, many of the first floors in this section are without steps and are shaped like stables or storefronts, with additional units above. Adjacent to the Charles River, the Flat of Beacon Hill is landfill and is the only section of the neighborhood that is level.

The Back Bay, the Financial District, bus and an MBTA subway stop are all within walking distance, albeit with a hill to climb for most of the neighborhood. A supermarket, numerous restaurants, drinking establishments, antique stores and other businesses are also close. Parking is almost impossible even with a resident parking sticker. Most residents pay a high monthly fee or it is included with the property. Street crime is minimal.