Elite Tier — School Rating 9–10
Boston has 9 neighborhoods that reach a school rating of 9 or 10 out of 10. These are the zones where public school performance is genuinely exceptional.
Strong Tier — School Rating 8
A school rating of 8/10 is well above the national average. Boston has 5 neighborhoods in this tier. These neighborhoods have highly rated public schools without the top-tier price.
Best Value — Strong Schools Under $700,000
Full Boston Neighborhood Rankings
| Neighborhood | Schools | Median Price |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington | 9/10 | $2.5M |
| Newton | 9/10 | $2.7M |
| Brookline | 9/10 | $2.7M |
| Beacon Hill | 9/10 | $3.1M |
| Back Bay | 9/10 | $3.1M |
| Milton | 9/10 | $2.5M |
| Needham | 9/10 | $2.5M |
| Cambridge | 9/10 | $2.7M |
| Belmont | 9/10 | $2.6M |
| South End | 8/10 | $3.1M |
| Arlington | 8/10 | $2.6M |
| Watertown | 8/10 | $2.6M |
| West Roxbury | 8/10 | $2.8M |
| Charlestown | 8/10 | $3.0M |
| North End | 7/10 | $3.0M |
| Winthrop | 7/10 | $2.3M |
| Medford | 7/10 | $2.4M |
| Braintree | 7/10 | $2.4M |
| Dedham | 7/10 | $2.5M |
| Waltham | 7/10 | $2.6M |
| Somerville | 7/10 | $2.7M |
| Roslindale | 7/10 | $2.8M |
| Jamaica Plain | 7/10 | $2.9M |
| South Boston | 7/10 | $3.0M |
| Fenway | 7/10 | $3.1M |
| Brighton | 6/10 | $2.9M |
| Malden | 6/10 | $2.4M |
| Weymouth | 6/10 | $2.4M |
| Quincy | 6/10 | $2.6M |
| Mission Hill | 6/10 | $2.7M |
| Hyde Park | 6/10 | $2.8M |
| Allston | 6/10 | $2.9M |
| Revere | 5/10 | $2.4M |
| Dorchester | 5/10 | $2.9M |
| East Boston | 5/10 | $3.0M |
| Lynn | 4/10 | $2.3M |
| Mattapan | 4/10 | $2.8M |
| Roxbury | 4/10 | $2.9M |
Check crime data
We don’t grade neighborhoods on crime. Look up the streets you’re considering in Boston with the agency that patrols them:
- Boston (BPD) (crime data page)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer (agency-level reports)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Boston neighborhood has the best schools?
Which Boston neighborhood has the best schools under $700,000?
Several Boston neighborhoods offer strong schools at accessible price points.
Is a 7/10 school rating good in Boston?
Yes — a 7/10 school rating in Boston is above average for the metro and well above the national average. The difference between a 7 and a 9 is real, but a 7 is not a bad school by any reasonable measure. Many buyers find 7-rated neighborhoods represent the best value in the market.
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