Living in Somerville, MA: prices, taxes and transit
A dense city next to Boston and Cambridge, with seven rapid transit stops and a 35% residential exemption.
Somerville is mostly a condo and multi-family market. Single-family sales are few, with a 12-month median of $1,305,000. The FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.98 per $1,000, and owner-occupants can apply for a 35% residential exemption. Rapid transit reaches Union Square, East Somerville, Gilman, Magoun and Ball Square on the Green Line, Assembly on the Orange Line, and Davis on the Red Line.
Somerville by the numbers
Source: The Context Report No. 5 (October 2026), MLS PIN closed single-family sales for September 2026; Massachusetts DOR FY2026 tax rates. Carrying cost assumes 20% down on a 30-year fixed loan and excludes insurance, HOA and maintenance. Annual tax on the September median at the FY2026 rate is about $14,082 before any exemption.
Every issue of The Context Report for Somerville
| Issue | Median | Sales | Carrying cost / mo | 12-mo median | 12-mo change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1, June 2026 | $1,699,000 | 5 | $10,325 | $1,400,000 | +7.7% |
| No. 2, July 2026 (June 2026 sales) | $1,335,000 | 10 | $8,168 | $1,412,500 | +17.2% |
| No. 3, August 2026 (July 2026 sales) | $1,002,500 | 8 | $6,127 | $1,365,000 | +5.8% |
| No. 4, September 2026 (August 2026 sales) | $1,082,500 | 4 | $6,679 | $1,300,000 | -4.6% |
| No. 5, October 2026 (September 2026 sales) | $1,282,500 | 6 | $8,428 | $1,305,000 | -4.2% |
Living in Somerville
A lot of people move to Somerville to live close to Boston and Cambridge without a car, in a city of neighborhood squares. Davis, Union, Ball, Magoun and Teele squares each have their own restaurants, bars and shops, and Assembly Row on the Mystic River adds bigger stores, a movie theater and new apartments next to the Orange Line. The Green Line Extension now puts most of the city within a short walk of a train.
The Somerville Community Path is the city's main outdoor spine. It runs from Davis Square toward Lechmere alongside the Green Line, and connects to the Minuteman Trail to Arlington, Lexington and Bedford, about 13 miles of paths in all. Draw Seven Park and the Mystic River paths are near Assembly. Somerville has two summer markets: the Union Square Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9 AM to 1 PM, May to the end of October, and the Davis Square Farmers Market on Wednesdays from noon to 6 PM, late May to late November.
About 6 in 10 of Somerville's homes are in two- to four-family buildings, many of them classic wood-frame two- and three-deckers, and about two thirds were built before 1940. Single-families make up only about 15 percent. Detached single-families and larger Victorians are scattered along quieter hillside streets such as Spring Hill, while newer buildings are concentrated around Assembly Row, Union Square and the new Green Line stations. Condos and two-families near a T stop, with parking or outdoor space, are a different kind of buy than units with no parking, steep stairs, or dated systems. Those usually need more patience and a clearer plan. Current prices and how long homes sit update with The Context Report on this page.
Homes in Somerville
Most of Somerville's housing is two- and three-family houses, many converted to condos, plus newer buildings near the Green Line stations and Assembly Row. Detached single-families are a small part of the market, which is why the single-family median moves so much month to month. If you are buying or selling a condo or two-family here, ask us for sales of that type in your part of the city.
Taxes and the residential exemption
Somerville offers a 35% residential exemption to owner-occupants, the maximum allowed by the state. It removes a fixed amount of assessed value from the bill on a primary residence, so it can make a big difference, especially on condos. Investors and owners who do not live in the property pay on the full assessed value. Owner-occupants have to apply. See how it compares on our property tax rates by town page.
Getting around
- Green Line: Union Square (D branch), and East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square and Ball Square (E branch).
- Orange Line: Assembly.
- Red Line: Davis. Porter station sits just over the Cambridge line.
- Bus and bike: many MBTA bus routes and the Somerville Community Path.
Schools, safety, water and flood data
We do not rate towns. These are the official sources, so you can look at the data yourself.
- Schools: Massachusetts DESE school and district profiles. Search for Somerville to see enrollment, staffing, assessment results and more.
- Crime data: Massachusetts crime statistics, the state's public crime reporting site. The Somerville police department also publishes local reports.
- Drinking water: MWRA drinking water quality reports (Somerville is an MWRA water community).
- Flood zones: FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Enter the address. If a home is in a high-risk flood zone, lenders will require flood insurance, so check before you make an offer.
Sources
Questions this page answers
What is the median home price in Somerville, MA?
Somerville's single-family median was $1,282,500 in September 2026, but on only 6 sales. The 12-month single-family median was $1,305,000. Most Somerville sales are condos and two- and three-families, which are not in that number.
What is the property tax rate in Somerville?
Somerville's FY2026 residential rate is $10.98 per $1,000, up from $10.91 in FY2025. Owner-occupants can apply for a 35% residential exemption, which lowers the bill on a primary residence.
What T stops are in Somerville?
The Green Line Extension stops at Union Square, East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square and Ball Square. The Orange Line stops at Assembly, and the Red Line stops at Davis. Porter is on the Cambridge line.
Is Somerville a good place to live?
That depends on what you need. This page gives the facts: prices, taxes, transit, and links to public school, crime, water and flood data.
Do I need to apply for the Somerville residential exemption?
Yes. If you buy a home to live in, apply with the Somerville assessor. The exemption is not automatic for new owners.