LOCAL REALTOR
Frank Carroll
Vice President / Real Estate Agent, Compass
Harvard guidance
HARVARD CAMBRIDGE, MA
Renting a Home Near Harvard
for Your Next Chapter
Compare housing, neighborhoods, planning resources and local guidance near Harvard University. Confirm current listing details with their sources before making a decision.
$3,050/moStarting rent assumptionEditable scenario
$146,4004-year rent baselineEditable scenario
$589,000Median asking priceCurrent displayed sale inventory
60Published propertiesCurrent client inventory
Use current published property data and your own editable assumptions. Confirm exact costs, availability, financing and campus route before acting.Run the Harvard Rent vs. Buy Scenario →
The 4-Year Harvard Ownership Scenario
Use the same time horizon to compare rent with ownership. Start with the displayed asking price, your down payment and financing assumptions, then add property taxes, insurance, association fees and the expected exit plan before deciding.
ILLUSTRATIVE CALCULATOR EXAMPLE
Compare three four-year housing scenarios
Use this example to plan housing near Harvard University. These are the existing calculator’s hypothetical inputs, not local market medians, current loan quotes or a forecast. The same purchase is compared with no roommate and with an assumed $1,000 monthly contribution.
Compare the full cost over the same 48 months. A roommate contribution reduces the modeled cash cost; it does not change the mortgage or guarantee rental income. The sale proceeds include returned invested equity, so they are not profit.
| Cost or outcome | A: Rent | B: Buy, no roommate | C: Buy, one hypothetical roommate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial monthly housing cost | $3,500 | $6,117 | $5,117 |
| Cash at purchase: down payment + buying costs | Not applicable | $175,950 | $175,950 |
| Four-year rent payments | $173,108 | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Annual roommate contribution | $0 | $0 | $12,000 |
| Four-year roommate contribution | $0 | $0 | $48,000 |
| Mortgage principal repaid in four years | Not applicable | $28,943 | $28,943 |
| Sale proceeds after selling costs and remaining mortgage | Not applicable | $195,320 | $195,320 |
| Modeled four-year net housing cost after resale | $173,108 | $274,240 | $226,240 |
See every modeled assumption
- Purchase price
- $765,000
- Down payment
- 20%
- Fixed interest rate
- 6.75%
- Loan amortization
- 30 years
- Comparison period
- 4 years / 48 months
- Initial rent
- $3,500/month
- Annual rent increase
- 2%
- HOA
- $670/month
- Property tax
- $10,192/year
- Insurance
- $1,800/year
- Maintenance reserve
- 0.75% of purchase price/year
- Annual price change
- 2%
- Buying costs
- 3% of purchase price
- Selling costs
- 6% of modeled sale price
- Hypothetical roommate contribution
- $1,000/month for all 48 months
Net ownership cost = cash at purchase + 48 months of carrying costs − sale proceeds after selling costs and mortgage repayment. Principal repayment is already included; it is not subtracted again. Taxes, insurance, HOA, maintenance and the roommate contribution are held constant. Rent increases once per year.
The rent example is off-campus housing only; it is not a dorm or meal-plan comparison. Utilities, rental deposits and move-in fees, mortgage insurance, tax effects, investment returns on cash, vacancy, unpaid rent and unexpected assessments are excluded. Roommate permission and financing eligibility require separate review. Change the assumptions in the interactive calculator before relying on a result.
Method references: CFPB mortgage amortization · closing costs and cash to close · renting, equity and selling costs. These explain the method, not the hypothetical amounts.
FRANK CARROLL · COMPASS
Featured Rentals Near Harvard
Saved rental observations from the published Harvard inventory. Each card identifies its listing source; Frank Carroll provides local real estate guidance.
1 listing-source photo
$3,000/mo Single Family
3 beds · 1 bath · 1,100 sq ft
Campus access · ~0.9 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$4,900/mo Single Family
3 beds · 2 baths · 1,504 sq ft
Campus access · ~0.9 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$3,395/mo Apartment
1 bed · 1 bath · 892 sq ft
Campus access · ~1.0 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$3,200/mo Apartment
2 beds · 1 bath · 850 sq ft
Campus access · ~1.2 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$3,659/mo Townhouse
1 bed · 1 bath · 600 sq ft
Campus access · ~1.4 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$3,200/mo Condo
3 beds · 1 bath · 785 sq ft
Campus access · ~1.5 mi straight-line to Harvard*$2,700/mo Condo
2 beds · 1 bath · 839 sq ft
Campus access · ~1.5 mi straight-line to Harvard*$2,700/mo Single Family
3 beds · 3 baths
Campus access · ~1.6 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$3,100/mo Single Family
2 beds · 1 bath
Campus access · ~1.8 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$3,400/mo Condo
1 bed · 1.5 baths · 853 sq ft
Campus access · ~1.9 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$4,000/mo Apartment
3 beds · 1 bath · 850 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.0 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$4,700/mo Apartment
2 beds · 2 baths
Campus access · ~2.0 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$2,400/mo Condo
2 beds · 1 bath · 774 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.1 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$2,900/mo Condo
2 beds · 1 bath · 794 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.1 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$2,700/mo Apartment
0 beds · 1 bath · 630 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.1 mi straight-line to Harvard*$2,700/mo Condo
2 beds · 1 bath · 890 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.2 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$2,700/mo Condo
1 bed · 1 bath · 390 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.2 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$3,650/mo Apartment
1 bed · 1 bath · 718 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.3 mi straight-line to Harvard*$3,800/mo Single Family
3 beds · 3 baths
Campus access · ~2.3 mi straight-line to Harvard*$3,300/mo Apartment
2 beds · 1 bath · 680 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.3 mi straight-line to Harvard*$4,250/mo Condo
2 beds · 2 baths · 1,000 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.3 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$2,595/mo Condo
0 beds · 1 bath · 405 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.3 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$5,500/mo Condo
2 beds · 2 baths · 965 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.4 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$2,600/mo Condo
1 bed · 1 bath · 722 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.4 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$3,000/mo Single Family
3 beds · 1 bath
Campus access · ~2.4 mi straight-line to Harvard*$2,500/mo Condo
1 bed · 1 bath · 680 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.5 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$2,195/mo Apartment
1 bed · 1 bath · 330 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.5 mi straight-line to Harvard*1 listing-source photo
$2,500/mo Condo
0 beds · 1 bath · 430 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.5 mi straight-line to Harvard*$3,200/mo Condo
2 beds · 1 bath · 760 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.5 mi straight-line to Harvard*$2,500/mo Condominium
1 bed · 1 bath · 600 sq ft
Campus access · ~2.5 mi straight-line to Harvard*Swipe, scroll or use the arrows to browse.Supporting photos are listing-source images.
Source checked. Current published rental listings are shown with their source attribution. Confirm availability and the exact campus route before acting.
Harvard University · MARKET CONTEXT
Know the market before you lease.
University demand and local housing benchmarks, with the location and reporting period kept beside each number.
University & housing details Definitions, dates and sources
1 bedroom rent reference $3,446/mo
Saved source-specific rental reference. Scope is the cited city or off-campus market guide; not median rent, per-bed rent, or a live quote.
Cambridge, MA · 2026-09 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗2 bedrooms rent reference $4,394/mo
Saved source-specific rental reference. Scope is the cited city or off-campus market guide; not median rent, per-bed rent, or a live quote.
Cambridge, MA · 2026-09 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗City median sale price $1,204,397
Median sale price for the cited city housing market; not a campus-only or student-property price.
Cambridge, MA · 2026-07 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗City sale-price change -4.4%
Year-over-year change paired with the saved city median sale-price series.
Cambridge, MA · 2026-07 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗Studio rent reference $2,937/mo
Saved source-specific rental reference. Scope is the cited city or off-campus market guide; not median rent, per-bed rent, or a live quote.
Cambridge, MA · 2026-09 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗3 bedrooms rent reference $5,323/mo
Saved source-specific rental reference. Scope is the cited city or off-campus market guide; not median rent, per-bed rent, or a live quote.
Cambridge, MA · 2026-09 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗University figures and citywide housing data cover different populations and periods. They do not establish achievable rent, occupancy or investment returns for a specific property.
REAL HOMES. REAL NUMBERS. BRIGHTER FUTURES.
Homes near Harvard University
Compare campus proximity, ownership costs and the four-year numbers — not just listing prices.
Available rentals · Sorted by distance
1 / 1
$3,000/mo
Ward Two · 0.9 miles to Harvard
▱ 3 bedrooms ♙ 1 bathroom ▦ 1,100 sq ft ⌂ Single Family
Why this home surfacedclose to campus and roommate flexibility
Current published selection. Confirm prices and availability. Distances are straight-line to campus.
Work with local experts
Get guidance from professionals who know Harvard and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Frank CarrollHarvard RealtorLocal advice. Local insight. Better outcomes.
Matt DeanLoan Officer, NEXACreative financing for college home buyers.
◷ Dated listing snapshots · confirm availability⌖ No addresses shown△ Work with a local expert for availability↕ Estimated costs. Your results may vary.We use AI to route intent, not replace professionals.
CHOOSE YOUR Harvard PLAN
Start with the decision you’re actually making.
Use the same Harvard market evidence, then follow the path that matches your goal.
⌂
Buying for your student?
Turn a housing decision into a four-year plan you can actually compare.
- Compare rent vs. buy with the same housing assumptions
- Model roommate contributions without depending on them
- Review parent financing questions and cash needed
- Plan the exit after graduation
▥
Investing near Harvard?
Compare a property’s rent evidence, operating costs, financing and exit plan.
- Review current listing and rent evidence
- Compare expenses, vacancy and management assumptions
- Confirm occupancy, building and rental rules
- Use DSCR and financing review where eligible
Harvard MARKET AT A GLANCE
Current Harvard-area pricing, at a glance.
Use the published range to set expectations, then open a home to compare the property-specific numbers.
CURRENT INVENTORY$264,990 – $1,400,000Homes for saleCurrent asking-price range
CURRENT INVENTORY$2,195 – $5,500/moRental listingsCurrent monthly asking-rent range
Homes for salePublished Harvard-area inventory
Rental listingsPublished Harvard-area inventory
How to use this
These ranges are a starting point—not a valuation. Compare the exact taxes, HOA, insurance, financing and campus route for the home you choose.
CAMPUS + NEIGHBORHOODS
Explore housing near Harvard on a map
Published listing coordinates are shown relative to the documented campus reference. Distances are straight-line miles, not walking or driving times.
Pins mark published property locations. Confirm each listing’s status and the exact campus route. These are not neighborhood boundaries or travel-time estimates.
Harvard LOCAL HOUSING CONTEXT
Local housing guidance near Harvard.
Use the official area and housing resources to compare the exact property address with the campus destination you need.
Harvard Square, Cambridge; photographed November 7, 2025. Photo: ajay_suresh. Source · CC BY 4.0 · Resized to 1600px on the long edge and re-encoded to JPEG at browser canvas quality 0.84; preserve aspect ratio. Presentation may crop. Prepared display derivative converted from the retained reviewed JPEG to WebP at unchanged dimensions with Pillow quality 88/method 6; no content retouching, no upscaling. Render the complete frame with object-fit:contain.Harvard Square
Harvard Square combines the university setting with bookstores, cafés, restaurants and theaters. Harvard Yard is in Cambridge, while other university destinations extend into Allston and beyond. Compare each home with the specific Harvard building you use.
Area context · check the exact campus routeOfficial area source ↗Official area source ↗Compare Harvard Square housing →
Prospect Street looking through Central Square, Cambridge (photographed 2005-11-11). Dated local context; present conditions may differ. Photo: Ethan O'Connor from Cambridge, MA. Source · CC BY 2.0 · Existing Wikimedia thumbnail scaling where applicable. Downloaded bytes retained unchanged. Render full frame with object-fit:contain; do not crop visible source credit or imply a current listing. Prepared display derivative converted from the retained reviewed JPEG to WebP at unchanged dimensions with Pillow quality 88/method 6; no content retouching, no upscaling. Render the complete frame with object-fit:contain.Central Square
Central Square in Cambridge is included in Harvard Law School’s off-campus neighborhood guide. When comparing a home here, check the exact campus destination, current transport options and the parking terms that apply to that address.
Area context · check the exact campus routeOfficial area source ↗Compare Central Square housing →
Porter Square Shopping Center in Cambridge, photographed in 2009. Photo: Chensiyuan. Source · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original source decoded; proportionately resized without upscaling to at most1280pixels wide and encoded as JPEG in browser canvas. No retouching or content alteration. Responsive presentation may crop. Prepared display derivative converted from the retained reviewed JPEG to WebP at unchanged dimensions with Pillow quality 88/method 6; no content retouching, no upscaling. Render the complete frame with object-fit:contain.Porter Square
Harvard Law School’s off-campus guide includes Porter Square in Cambridge. Use the actual property address and your Harvard destination to compare the daily journey and confirm any parking arrangements with the property provider.
Area context · check the exact campus routeOfficial area source ↗Compare Porter Square housing →LOCAL GUIDANCE
Take the property and the numbers to the people who can help you act.
Keep the home, neighborhood context and financing assumptions together so you do not have to restart the decision.
LOCAL REAL ESTATE
Work with Frank
Harvard-area property context, neighborhood tradeoffs, current listings and the plan after graduation.
- Property and neighborhood review
- Current listing context
- Guidance for parents and investors
FINANCING PLANNING
Get financing guidance with Matt
NEXA Lending · NMLS #227603. Start with a state-aware review of the property, occupancy and financing scenario.
- Parent-buyer financing questions
- DSCR and investor scenarios where eligible
- Applicable licensing confirmed before application
Local expertiseOne trusted market team
Smarter decisionsData, not guesswork
Real opportunitiesCurrent property inventory
Long-term valueFor families and investors
MOVING FOR WORK
Faculty & staff housing near Harvard
Compare buying, renting, neighborhoods and your commute to work.
Reviewed video · CollegeHousing.ai
See Harvard in context
Explore campus and the surrounding area through reviewed public videos, with source information and summaries.
Campus tourVerified 2026-09-08
Harvard College Campus Tour
A current official Harvard College Admissions tour of the Cambridge campus.
Videos remain hosted and played by their original publishers through YouTube. CollegeHousing.ai reviews relevance and adds independent housing context; no university affiliation or endorsement is implied. Open the reviewed Harvard video.