South End

South End

The South End section of Boston is the largest Victorian neighborhood in America.

Welcome to South End

Spanning nearly 1 square mile, the South End section of Boston is the largest Victorian neighborhood in America. With its bounty of Victorian rowhouses and new residential developments, the South End has become a first choice of Boston’s urban professionals.
 
The South End is known for its diversity, food, and culture, as well as its close proximity to shopping, public transportation, the Back Bay, Symphony Hall, the Boston Ballet, and much more.
 
Add to this such anticipated events as the annual Garden Tour, Open Artist Studios, Boston Center for the Arts performances, and numerous festivals, parades, and street fairs, and it is no wonder that so many call the South End home. 
 
Originally laid out in 1801 by Charles Bulfinch, the South End was designed around the former "Boston Neck," a barren strip of land surrounded by marshes, which connected Boston to the mainland area of Roxbury. Constructed as a grid pattern of streets with center parks and Victorian rowhouses, the South End was infilled by the South Cove Company during the 1830s.
 
During the 1840s and 1850s, residential expansion went into full gear. The residential streets of the "New South End" had center parks, enclosed by lavish cast-iron fences and fountains. Victorian-style rowhouses were built with red brick construction and uniform roof cornices. The new streets were based on a grid pattern, and were termed "a district well laid out."
 
By 1860, this expansion had produced streets such as Union Park, Concord Square, Worcester Square, and Chester Park. Newly constructed single-family townhomes were occupied by Boston's upper class. With the residential expansion also came the emergence of a number of churches and synagogues, the Boston City Hospital, and the original Boston College. Business also flourished, with manufacturers such as Chickering, Emerson, and Vose Piano calling the South End home.
 
During the 1870's however, the South End slipped out of fashion. The infill of the Back Bay led to the construction of larger mansions, which attracted many of the affluent South End residents. The Panic of 1873 also led to many failed mortgages, and the South End found itself transformed from an elegant residential neighborhood to a lodging and boardinghouse district.
 
By World War II, the South End had emerged as a nexus for different cultures, religions, and beliefs. African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latino Americans, among other groups from around the world, came to call the South End home. While the culture of the South End thrived, much of the architecture fell into disrepair or was demolished to make way for new housing.
 
By 1970 however, the architecture of the South End was rediscovered by urban professionals and Victorian architecture enthusiasts, who restored many of the rowhouses to their original glory. In 1973, the South End was named to the National Registry of Historical Places, and in 1983, the South End was designated a Landmark District. This designation provided guidelines for the construction and restoration of rowhouses, to preserve Charles Bullfinch's vision of an elegant Victorian neighborhood.
 
Today, the South End continues to thrive as an energetic, multi-cultured community. The
Victorian rowhouses of the 1800's have been restored as condominiums and single-family townhouses. Cultural centers, such as the Boston Ballet and Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) reside, as well as many successful businesses and restaurants.
 
Since the late 1990s, over two billion dollars in residential construction has taken shape, making the South End a popular neighborhood for urban professionals, empty nesters, and families alike.


Featured Developments



Similar Neighborhoods


Overview for South End, MA

27,168 people live in South End, where the median age is 38 and the average individual income is $104,221. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

27,168

Total Population

38 years

Median Age

High

Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

$104,221

Average individual Income

Around South End, MA

There's plenty to do around South End, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.

99
Walker's Paradise
Walking Score
92
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score
90
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score

Points of Interest

Explore popular things to do in the area, including Long Live Roxbury, Walden Local Butcher Shop, and OKW.

Name Category Distance Reviews
Ratings by Yelp
Long Live Roxbury Logo
Dining 0.95 miles 8 reviews 5/5 stars
Walden Local Butcher Shop Logo
Dining 0.06 miles 12 reviews 5/5 stars
OKW Logo
Shopping 0.36 miles 6 reviews 5/5 stars
Ouimillie Logo
Shopping 1.27 miles 5 reviews 5/5 stars
All She Wrote Books Logo
Shopping 2.88 miles 6 reviews 5/5 stars
Pine Manor College Child Study Center Logo
Active 4.64 miles 10 reviews 5/5 stars

Demographics and Employment Data for South End, MA

Population Households Employment

South End has 14,321 households, with an average household size of 2. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in South End do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 27,168 people call South End home. The population density is 42,037.506 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

27,168

Total Population

High

Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

38

Median Age

48.77 / 51.23%

Men vs Women

Population by Age Group

0-9:

0-9 Years

10-17:

10-17 Years

18-24:

18-24 Years

25-64:

25-64 Years

65-74:

65-74 Years

75+:

75+ Years

Education Level

  • Less Than 9th Grade
  • High School Degree
  • Associate Degree
  • Bachelor Degree
  • Graduate Degree
14,321

Total Households

2

Average Household Size

$104,221

Average individual Income

Households with Children

With Children:

Without Children:

Marital Status

Married
Single
Divorced
Separated

Blue vs White Collar Workers

Blue Collar:

White Collar:

Commute Time

0 to 14 Minutes
15 to 29 Minutes
30 to 59 Minutes
60+ Minutes

Schools in South End, MA

All ()
Primary Schools ()
Middle Schools ()
High Schools ()
Mixed Schools ()
The following schools are within or nearby South End. The rating and statistics can serve as a starting point to make baseline comparisons on the right schools for your family. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Type
Name
Category
Grades
School rating
Blackstone
380 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118
PUBLIC
PreK - 5th
No rating available
Joseph J Hurley
70 Worcester Street, Boston, MA, 02118
PUBLIC
PreK - 8th
2/5
William McKinley
90 Warren Avenue, Boston, MA, 02116
PUBLIC
K - 12th
No rating available
Cathedral High School
74 Union Park St, Boston, MA, 02118
PRIVATE
7th - 12th
No rating available

Property Listings

For Sale
MLS® 73206252

$11,500,000

39 Union Park, Boston, MA 02118
5 Beds 7 Baths 6,830 Sq.Ft.
Pending
MLS® 72969924

$9,000,000

211-213 West Springfield Street, Boston, MA 02118
10 Beds 10 Baths 6,315 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
MLS® 73196727

$8,999,999

285 Columbus # 1, Boston, MA 02116
9,647 Sq.Ft.
Pending
MLS® 72969694

$8,500,000

16-24 Union Park Street, Boston, MA 02118
9 Beds 11 Baths 9,502 Sq.Ft.
Pending
MLS® 72969695

$7,750,000

6-14 Union Park Street, Boston, MA 02118
10 Beds 6 Baths 9,941 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
MLS® 73233656

$6,990,000

1166 Washington Street # 706 Unit: 704-706, Boston, MA 02118
3 Beds 3 Baths 3,827 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
MLS® 73184263

$6,300,000

111 Pembroke St, Boston, MA 02118
5 Beds 4 Baths 5,398 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
MLS® 73172351

$6,299,000

380 Harrison Ave # 14J, Boston, MA 02118
4 Beds 4.5 Baths 2,704 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
MLS® 73203597

$6,250,000

165 West Brookline Street, Boston, MA 02118
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,160 Sq.Ft.
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16 Clarendon St

Boston MA 02116