NEIGHBORHOODS
Upper Back Bay
Overview
Known for its rows of meticulously planned—and preserved—Victorian brownstones, the streets of Upper Back Bay offer some of the finest examples of 19th-century urban planning in the country. This fashionable, upscale neighborhood offers a seamless marriage of residential charm and commercial appeal, with abundant dining and shopping options within walking distance of its neighborhood streets.
Upper Back Bay with Katie Garger
The Back Bay has a best-of-all-worlds appeal, making it an enviable place to call home. So it is no surprise that property here is some of the most coveted in Boston. Together, let’s wander the streets of Back Bay, take in its charm, and learn what makes each of its sub-neighborhoods unique. We will start with Katie’s personal favorite: Upper Back Bay.
Falling in love with Back Bay already?
So are we! See you in Lower Back Bay…
Location
Situated on the southern bank of the Charles River, Upper Back Bay occupies a tidy grid in the northwestern portion of the Back Bay. Bounded on the north by the river, Upper Back Bay’s southern boundary runs along Boylston Street from just past Massachusetts Avenue to Dartmouth Street, which form its western and eastern boundaries, respectively. Adjacent to the Lower Back Bay, this neighborhood consists of the numerically higher addresses on Comm Ave, Marlborough and Beacon Streets.
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$2M+ LUXURY MARKET DATA
Upper Back Bay had the most compelling year of them all. Sales volume surged from $165M in 2024 to $224M in 2025, a striking increase that reflects both heightened buyer interest and improved transaction velocity. That growth was paired with a meaningful jump in sales quantity, rising from 39 to 48 transactions year over year. In many ways, Upper Back Bay emerged as the neighborhood’s quiet momentum play, offering scale, architectural gravitas, and value relative to its Lower Back Bay counterpart, all while capturing a growing share of buyer attention. On the ground, agents are constantly seeking off market opportunities for clients. Yet in practice, these deals remain relatively rare. Out of 133 Back Bay luxury sales, just 24 traded off market & only 7 of those were identified in Upper Back Bay. When they do surface, a well sourced off market opportunity can create a more seamless buying experience by removing the pressure of open market competition.
$224,160,500
TOTAL SALES VOLUME
$1,614
AVG. PRICE PER SQ. FOOT
48
NUMBER OF $2M+ PROPERTIES SOLD
20
NUMBER OF $4M+ PROPERTIES SOLD
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