About Harvard Square
Harvard Square is a Cambridge neighborhood built around Harvard University, with Harvard Yard on one side and Cambridge Common on the other. Harvard station on the Red Line sits beneath the square, and the bus tunnel below it is one of the largest transit hubs in the region, with routes reaching Watertown, Belmont, Arlington, Medford, Allston and Brookline without a transfer. Its rental stock leans further toward apartment buildings than the neighborhoods around it, with converted houses filling the streets off Brattle Street and toward the river, and Brattle Street, the Brattle Theatre and the Charles River anchor the area.
Spot Easy lists Harvard Square apartments from verified agents, with real-time availability, filters for bedroom count, bathrooms, pets, parking, laundry, elevator access and no-broker-fee listings, and photos or 3D tours on most units.
Neighborhood Nine apartments sit immediately northwest, with Central Square apartments down Massachusetts Avenue and Riverside apartments toward the river. Cambridge-wide median asking rents by bedroom count, with sample sizes and percentiles, are published in the Spot Easy Rent Index.
FAQ about Harvard Square Apartments for Rent
How is transit access in Harvard Square?
Harvard station on the Red Line sits under the square, and the bus tunnel beneath it is one of the largest transit hubs in the region. Routes 66, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 86, 96 and 109 all serve it, reaching Watertown, Belmont, Arlington, Medford, Allston and Brookline without a transfer. Central is one stop toward Boston and close enough to walk.
What kinds of buildings are in Harvard Square?
Harvard Square leans further toward apartment buildings than any other neighborhood in this part of Cambridge. Buildings in the ten-to-fifty unit range are the single most common type, and there are a number of larger ones as well. Converted houses and smaller wood-frame buildings fill the streets off Brattle Street and toward the river. Elevator access is more widely available here than in the surrounding neighborhoods as a result.
What sizes of apartment are most common in Harvard Square?
One-bedrooms are by a clear margin the most common size listed in Harvard Square, followed by studios. Two-bedrooms are noticeably scarcer here than in neighboring Cambridgeport or Central Square. If you want two or more bedrooms, plan to search a wider radius or move quickly when something posts.
What is Harvard Square known for?
The square is the historic center of Cambridge and the front door to Harvard University, with Harvard Yard on one side and Cambridge Common on the other. Brattle Street runs west past the Brattle Theatre and a stretch of eighteenth-century houses. The Charles River and the Weeks Footbridge are a few minutes south, and the Harvard Square bookstores and cafes remain the anchor of the retail mix.
Is Harvard Square walkable?
It is one of the most walkable places in Greater Boston. The square is compact, the streets converge on a single point, and almost everything in the neighborhood is within a ten-minute walk of the station entrance. Street parking is resident-permit only across most of the neighborhood, so a car is more of a liability here than an asset.
When should I start looking for an apartment in Harvard Square?
Harvard Square runs firmly on the September 1 cycle, and inventory peaks between April and July. The best selection goes early in that window, and by August what remains is thin. Looking in late fall or winter means fewer options but far less competition on the ones that are posted.
How do I find no-broker-fee apartments in Harvard Square?
The larger managed buildings are the likeliest to lease without a tenant-paid fee; the converted houses off Brattle Street are usually handled by an agent and usually carry one. Use the no-broker-fee filter to separate them. A fee is typically one month's rent on top of first month, last month and a security deposit.