Why Jeffries Point Is One of Boston's Best Places to Live

Oct 28, 2026 · @Andrew Pike

Jeffries Point gives you the best view of the Boston skyline from almost anywhere in the city, and you can be downtown in minutes. This small corner at the southern tip of East Boston mixes 19th-century rowhouses, a working harbor, and some of the city's best waterfront parks.

It's also one of Boston's most interesting places to live. Here's why so many people who move to "Eastie" end up wanting to live right here.

A neighborhood with real history

Jeffries Point was the first part of East Boston to be settled. The East Boston Company began laying it out in 1833, starting with the streets around Belmont Square. In the decades that followed, ship captains built homes on the hill, and the waterfront below filled with shipyards.

You can read that history in the buildings. Walk a few blocks and you'll pass Greek Revival rowhouses, Victorian townhouses, and turn-of-the-century triple-deckers. Webster Street has brick bowfronts that wouldn't look out of place on Beacon Hill. It's also where Joseph P. Kennedy, father of President John F. Kennedy, was born.

The Point was also a gateway for immigrants. An immigration station once stood here, and new arrivals have shaped the neighborhood ever since: first Irish, then Italian, and today many Latin American families.

The waterfront is your backyard

Few Boston neighborhoods have this much green space on the water. The highlights:

• Piers Park. The neighborhood's crown jewel, about a 10-minute walk from Maverick station. It has lawns, a playground, picnic tables, a public sailing center, and a long pier with sweeping views of the skyline. Free concerts happen there in the summer.
• The Golden Stairs. A historic stairway and overlook that connects Brophy Park on Webster Street down to Piers Park.
• LoPresti Park. A Harborwalk stop with a playground, an outdoor ping pong table, and a splash pad for kids in summer.
• The East Boston Greenway. A multi-use path for running, biking, or walking to other parts of Eastie, lined with murals along the way.

Add it up and you get something rare in a dense city: a morning run along the harbor, a sunset picnic, or a sailing lesson, all within a few blocks of home.

Downtown in minutes, by train or by boat

Jeffries Point feels tucked away, but it's one of the best-connected corners of Boston.

• The Blue Line. Maverick station is at the edge of the neighborhood. Downtown is just one stop under the harbor.
• The ferry. In season, the MBTA's F3 ferry runs from Lewis Mall to Long Wharf. The crossing takes about 10 minutes and costs $2.40, the same as a subway ride. It may be the most scenic commute in the city.
• Logan Airport. The airport is right next door, so frequent travelers can get to a flight in minutes, not an hour.

For drivers, the Sumner and Callahan tunnels lead straight downtown, and Route 1A heads north.

Old favorites and new neighbors

For a small area, Jeffries Point eats well. A few spots locals love:

• Santarpio's Pizza. A Boston institution on Chelsea Street, famous for its pizza and grilled skewers.
• The Tall Ship. A 245-foot ship turned floating oyster bar at Pier One, with oysters, sushi, three mahogany bars, and live music. It's open seasonally, roughly spring through fall.
• The Quiet Few. A cozy whiskey tavern with a serious brown-spirits list.
• Chef Douglass Williams's coastal Italian restaurant, set at the end of the pier on Clippership Wharf. Come for the pasta and stay for the panoramic skyline view, a favorite for date nights.

Maverick Square, the neighborhood's front door, adds bakeries, taquerias, and markets that reflect Eastie's Italian and Latin American roots.

The community feel is real, too. Longtime families and newcomers share the same parks, stoops, and summer concerts. Many people say it feels more like a village than part of a big city.

What it costs to live here

Jeffries Point is mostly condos, many carved out of historic rowhouses and triple-deckers, plus a growing number of new buildings. Prices are high for East Boston but still below waterfront neighborhoods like the Seaport or Charlestown.

Measure (spring 2026)	Figure
Homes for sale	45, of which 41 were condos
Average list price	About $887,000
Price range	$455,000 to $1.9 million
Average price per sq ft	About $755
Average days on market	92

A few things buyers should weigh:

• Flood risk. Parts of the waterfront sit in flood zones, so check the flood map and insurance costs early.
• Airport noise. Logan is next door. Visit at different times of day to hear the flight paths for yourself.
• Most homes rely on street parking, so a deeded space adds real value.

Source: Steve Novak Real Estate market snapshot, April 2026.

Is Jeffries Point right for you?

If you want water views, history, and a quick trip downtown without Back Bay prices, Jeffries Point is hard to beat. It suits young professionals, frequent flyers, and families who want a park at the end of the block.

The best way to know is to spend an afternoon here. Ride the Blue Line to Maverick, walk down to Piers Park, grab a slice at Santarpio's, and watch the sun set behind the skyline. There's a good chance you won't want to leave.

Sources

• SAH Archipedia: Belmont Square
• City of Boston: Jeffries Point walking tour
• gov: Boston Inner Harbor guide
• Boston Harborwalk: Piers Park
• Wikipedia: MBTA ferry
• Boston Globe: The Tall Ship floating oyster bar
• OpenTable: MIDA East Boston
• Classpop: Best restaurants in East Boston
• Steve Novak Real Estate: Jeffries Point market