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GREATER BOSTON · KELLY CUI

Somerville

Somerville is organized around its squares, and the Green Line Extension added stations at Union Square, East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square and Ball Square, at the Medford line, to the Red Line at Davis and the Orange Line at Assembly.

HOME & LIVINGSCROLL TO EXPLORE ↓

A city of squares, now with Green Line stations, and its own condo conversion rules.

Cambridge & the inner suburbs · COMMUNITY GUIDE

A city of squares, now with Green Line stations, and its own condo conversion rules.

Somerville is organized around its squares, and the Green Line Extension added stations at Union Square, East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square and Ball Square, at the Medford line, to the Red Line at Davis and the Orange Line at Assembly. The City has its own rules on converting rental units to condominiums and one of the largest residential exemptions in Massachusetts.

SOMERVILLE · AT A GLANCE

Somerville at a glance

Population, housing and local identity.

Population
84,211
July 1, 2025 estimate
Median household income
$132,572
2020–2024 · annual, in 2024 dollars
Median owner-occupied home value
$911,300
2020–2024 · Census housing value
Median monthly gross rent
$2,517
2020–2024 · gross rent per month

LOCAL IDENTITY

The Old Powder House

Somerville became a city in 1872. The British removal of gunpowder from the Old Powder House in 1774 was a notable event leading up to the American Revolution.

Municipality
City of Somerville
County / State
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Land area
4.12 sq mi (2020)
City incorporation
1872
Union Square station · Somerville
Union Square station · Somerville© 4300streetcar · CC BY 4.0 · WebP
Statistical definitions & official sources

Income is household income, not an individual salary. Home value is a Census estimate for owner-occupied housing, not a current sale-price median. Gross rent includes contract rent and applicable utility and fuel costs. These citywide statistics are not quotes for a specific home.

PROPERTY TAX & EXEMPTIONS

Property tax, clearly explained

Somerville · Latest certified rate as of 2026-10-29.

Residential tax rate

FY2026

$10.98

per $1,000 of assessed value / year

Equivalent base rate 1.098%

Based on the municipal assessment. Exemptions, any CPA surcharge and other bill adjustments affect the final bill.

Official certified rates ↗

Owner-occupied exemption

Available · eligibility applies

Residential Exemption

The municipality has adopted a 35% exemption, calculated from its average residential assessed value. It is not 35% off your own home’s value or tax bill.

Ownership, principal-residence dates and application requirements must be met. Confirm the current-year amount with the assessor.

Official exemption information ↗

Personal exemptions

Available · eligibility applies

Personal / Statutory Exemptions

Programs cover qualifying older residents, legally blind owners, certain veterans and eligible surviving spouses or minor children. Requirements differ by program.

Age, residency, ownership, income or assets may be considered. An individual owner is not automatically eligible; check the local application and deadline.

Eligibility & applications ↗

Residential exemption adoption: Massachusetts DLS local-options report. Personal relief: the municipal assessor. Tax deferral postpones payment; it does not cancel the tax. DLS local options ↗

EXPLORE THE AREA

Map of Somerville

Open in Google Maps ↗

GETTING AROUND

Subway & rail in Somerville

Transit guide & official maps ↗
Union Square station · Somerville
Union Square station · Somerville© 4300streetcar · CC BY 4.0 · WebP

STATIONS AT A GLANCE

Subway

Local stations
Red Line
Orange Line
Green Line D

Commuter Rail

Connections outside the area
Fitchburg Line

Selected boarding points, grouped by line. Not every stop is shown; this is not a scale map.

View the network maps ↗

Stations serving the area

Subway

Somerville has several distinct rail corridors: Red at Davis, Orange at Assembly, Green D at Union Square, and Green E through East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square and Ball Square. Ball Square is near the Medford boundary.

MBTA · OFFICIAL MAP

Official MBTA Subway Map

The complete official rapid transit map, including key bus routes. Open the full-size map or PDF to read station names.

Full official PDF ↗

© MBTA · 2026-06-14 · Official network map. MBTA maps ↗

Nearby connection outside the area

Commuter Rail

Somerville has no local Commuter Rail station. Nearby Porter is in Cambridge and serves the Fitchburg Line; it is a connection option, not a Somerville station.

MBTA · OFFICIAL MAP

Official MBTA Commuter Rail Map

The complete official Commuter Rail network, with stations and Boston terminals. Use the route pages for current schedules and service changes.

Full official PDF ↗

© MBTA · 2025-03-24 · Official network map. MBTA maps ↗

Do not treat all Green Line stops as interchangeable. Check the branch and any transfer needed for your destination.

Selected stations are shown above. Open the MBTA line or station page for the full route, current timetable, accessibility and parking. Service patterns can change.

SCHOOLS & EDUCATION

Explore schools in Somerville

11public schools

Compare schools listed in Somerville, including public charter schools where present. Confirm school assignment and eligibility for the exact home address, grade and school year.

CHECK THE EXACT ADDRESS

Somerville Public Schools

The official page links the current Street Directory; proximity and final assignment are not the same.

School locations in Somerville

Select a school or a map pin to see its address and school details.

11 schools mapped
Multiple levels

School names are shown on the map. Zoom in or filter by level to separate nearby labels. Multi-level schools appear in each relevant filter.

Loading map. School addresses and official links are also available in the cards below.

Locations, not attendance boundaries. One contact or main campus location is shown per school; some schools have additional campuses. Charter schools follow their own enrollment process. MassGIS ↗

Pre-K – Grade 8Somerville

Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 8.

DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
51Percentile 1–99

MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8

English language arts45%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics40%Meeting or exceeding expectations

A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.

290 Washington Street, Somerville MA 02143 ↗

School details & official resources
School district
Somerville
School type
Public school
Grades in directory
Pre-K – Grade 8
Principal
Glenda Soto
Office phone
617-629-5460
School / district site
Visit official website ↗
Students
548 · 2025-26
Students / teacher
13.5 : 1 · 2025-26

Student growth · MCAS 2026

Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.

Tested grades 3–8ELA 53 · Math 55
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗

Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.

Public school

Arthur D Healey ↗

Pre-K – Grade 8Somerville

Arthur D Healey is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 8.

DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
22Percentile 1–99

MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8

English language arts27%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics23%Meeting or exceeding expectations

A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.

5 Meacham Street, Somerville MA 02145 ↗

School details & official resources
School district
Somerville
School type
Public school
Grades in directory
Pre-K – Grade 8
Principal
Sarah Wahl
Office phone
617-629-5420
School / district site
Visit official website ↗
Students
461 · 2025-26
Students / teacher
11.8 : 1 · 2025-26

Student growth · MCAS 2026

Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.

Tested grades 3–8ELA 51 · Math 53
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗

Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.

K – Grade 5Somerville

Benjamin G Brown is a public school in Somerville, serving k – grade 5.

DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
94Percentile 1–99

MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8

English language arts80%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics79%Meeting or exceeding expectations

A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.

201 Willow Avenue, Somerville MA 02144 ↗

School details & official resources
School district
Somerville
School type
Public school
Grades in directory
K – Grade 5
Principal
Christopher Ames
Office phone
617-629-5620
School / district site
Visit official website ↗
Students
230 · 2025-26
Students / teacher
14.6 : 1 · 2025-26

Student growth · MCAS 2026

Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.

Tested grades 3–8ELA 50 · Math 60
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗

Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.

Pre-K – Grade 1Somerville

Capuano Early Childhood Center is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 1.

DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
—Percentile 1–99

No published 2026 MCAS results for these tested grades.

A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.

150 Glen Street, Somerville MA 02145 ↗

School details & official resources
School district
Somerville
School type
Public school
Grades in directory
Pre-K – Grade 1
Principal
Isabel Barros
Office phone
617-629-5480
School / district site
Visit official website ↗
Students
240 · 2025-26
Students / teacher
10.9 : 1 · 2025-26

Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.

Pre-K – Grade 8Somerville

E Somerville Community is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 8.

DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
29Percentile 1–99

MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8

English language arts29%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics24%Meeting or exceeding expectations

A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.

50 Cross Street, Somerville MA 02145 ↗

School details & official resources
School district
Somerville
School type
Public school
Grades in directory
Pre-K – Grade 8
Principal
Berenice Mace-Diaz
Office phone
617-625-6600
School / district site
Visit official website ↗
Students
743 · 2025-26
Students / teacher
13.4 : 1 · 2025-26

Student growth · MCAS 2026

Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.

Tested grades 3–8ELA 54 · Math 58
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗

Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.

Grade 9 – Grade 12Somerville

Full Circle High School is a public school in Somerville, serving grade 9 – grade 12.

DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
—Percentile 1–99

No published 2026 MCAS results for these tested grades.

A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.

81 Highland Ave Full Circle, Somerville MA 02143 ↗

School details & official resources
School district
Somerville
School type
Public school
Grades in directory
Grade 9 – Grade 12
Principal
John Haverty
Office phone
617-629-5640
School / district site
Visit official website ↗
Students
60 · 2025-26
Students / teacher
5.8 : 1 · 2025-26

Four-year graduation rate

70%Class of 2025 · All students

Share of the cohort graduating within four years. Small cohorts and unavailable results may not be reported.

DESE graduation report ↗
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗

Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.

Public school

John F Kennedy ↗

Pre-K – Grade 8Somerville

John F Kennedy is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 8.

DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
81Percentile 1–99

MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8

English language arts65%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics66%Meeting or exceeding expectations

A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.

5 Cherry Street, Somerville MA 02144 ↗

School details & official resources
School district
Somerville
School type
Public school
Grades in directory
Pre-K – Grade 8
Principal
Steven Marshall
Office phone
617-629-5440
School / district site
Visit official website ↗
Students
474 · 2025-26
Students / teacher
14.3 : 1 · 2025-26

Student growth · MCAS 2026

Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.

Tested grades 3–8ELA 52 · Math 61
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗

Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.

Grade 7 – Grade 8Somerville

Next Wave Junior High is a public school in Somerville, serving grade 7 – grade 8.

DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
—Percentile 1–99

MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8

English language arts9%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics9%Meeting or exceeding expectations

A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.

81 Highland Ave Next Wave Junior High, Somerville MA 02143 ↗

School details & official resources
School district
Somerville
School type
Public school
Grades in directory
Grade 7 – Grade 8
Principal
John Haverty
Office phone
617-629-5640
School / district site
Visit official website ↗
Students
11 · 2025-26
Students / teacher
3.1 : 1 · 2025-26

Student growth · MCAS 2026

Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.

Tested grades 3–8ELA — · Math —
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗

Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.

Public school

Somerville High ↗

Grade 9 – Grade 12Somerville

Somerville High is a public school in Somerville, serving grade 9 – grade 12.

DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
36Percentile 1–99

MCAS 2026 · Grade 10

English language arts45%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics41%Meeting or exceeding expectations

A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.

81 Highland Avenue, Somerville MA 02143 ↗

School details & official resources
School district
Somerville
School type
Public school
Grades in directory
Grade 9 – Grade 12
Principal
Alicia Kersten
Office phone
617-625-6600
School / district site
Visit official website ↗
Students
1,367 · 2025-26
Students / teacher
11.2 : 1 · 2025-26

Student growth · MCAS 2026

Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.

Grade 10ELA 52 · Math 47

Four-year graduation rate

89.8%Class of 2025 · All students

Share of the cohort graduating within four years. Small cohorts and unavailable results may not be reported.

DESE graduation report ↗
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗

Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.

Pre-K – Grade 8Somerville

West Somerville Neighborhood is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 8.

DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
47Percentile 1–99

MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8

English language arts45%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics46%Meeting or exceeding expectations

A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.

177 Powderhouse Blvd, Somerville MA 02144 ↗

School details & official resources
School district
Somerville
School type
Public school
Grades in directory
Pre-K – Grade 8
Principal
Andre Pelletier
Office phone
617-625-6600
School / district site
Visit official website ↗
Students
381 · 2025-26
Students / teacher
14.5 : 1 · 2025-26

Student growth · MCAS 2026

Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.

Tested grades 3–8ELA 48 · Math 48
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗

Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.

Pre-K – Grade 8Somerville

Winter Hill Community is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 8.

DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
10Percentile 1–99

MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8

English language arts23%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics22%Meeting or exceeding expectations

A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.

8 Bonair Street, Somerville MA 02145 ↗

School details & official resources
School district
Somerville
School type
Public school
Grades in directory
Pre-K – Grade 8
Principal
Courtney Gosselin
Office phone
617-629-5680
School / district site
Visit official website ↗
Students
361 · 2025-26
Students / teacher
8.4 : 1 · 2025-26

Student growth · MCAS 2026

Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.

Tested grades 3–8ELA 41 · Math 53
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗

Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.

Understand the numbers

Enrollment and student/teacher ratios use the stated school year. The 2026 DESE percentile runs from 1 to 99 and is not a score out of 100. A dash means the figure was not reported.

More school resources

GreatSchools and Niche publish their own ratings and reviews. Open their sites to search a school; those ratings are separate from DESE data.

School contacts and operating status: DESE school profiles, October 29, 2026. Enrollment and ratios: the year shown on each card. Accountability: DESE 2026, October 20 release. Addresses are official contact addresses; some schools have more than one campus. MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS.

LIVING IN SOMERVILLE

Homes & everyday life

Look closer at local homes, daily routines and ownership responsibilities.

01

Squares, plans and the Green Line Extension

Somerville is usually described by its squares, and the City plans that way too: it has adopted area plans for Union Square, Winter Hill, Assembly Square, Brickbottom, Gilman Square and Lowell Street. Rapid transit reaches the city at Davis on the Red Line, Assembly on the Orange Line, Union Square at the end of the Green Line D branch, and East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square and Ball Square, at the Medford line, on the E branch, which the Green Line Extension opened.

Bus routes cover much of the rest, including routes 80, 87, 88, 89 and 90. Map the trip you make most often from each candidate address and time it at the hour you would travel. If an area plan covers the address, read what it proposes for the blocks around it, because those plans shape what may change nearby.

02

Older and newer condominiums, and the conversion rules

Much of Somerville's housing is in two- and three-family houses, many divided into condominiums, alongside newer buildings. In an older building, ask about the roof, heating, windows and foundation; in a newer one, ask what remains under warranty and whether the association's budget reflects the real cost of running the building. For a condominium, review the 6(d) certificate, budget and reserves, what the fee covers, parking and storage, and the rules on leasing and pets.

Converting rental units to condominiums is regulated by the City's Condominium Review Board. Under amendments in effect from October 1, 2025, an owner must give the Board two years' notice before receiving a final permit to convert a vacant, formerly tenanted unit, and relocation payments for tenants were raised. For applications submitted on or after that date, the City lists $14,000 or $18,000 for tenants who move out from October 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026, and $14,378 or $18,486 from February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027; the higher amount applies to tenants entitled to enhanced protections, and the amounts are adjusted every February. If you are buying a recently converted unit, ask for the conversion permit; if you are buying a multi-family house with conversion in mind, read the ordinance first. If you rent out a unit, the City's Housing Stability Notification Act requires two different notices of rights and resources: one to a new tenant at the start of the tenancy, and a separate one at the end of a tenancy.

03

Historic districts, demolition review, flood maps and schools

Somerville has local historic districts, where exterior changes need a Historic Preservation permit, and its demolition review ordinance applies to buildings more than 75 years old. If you plan exterior work, an addition or a teardown, check the address with the Historic Preservation office before you count on the plan.

Look up the exact address on FEMA's flood maps. If a home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area and you finance it with a federally regulated or federally backed loan, the lender will generally require flood insurance, so get a quote before you settle the budget.

Public school assignment depends on the exact address. Confirm the assigned schools for any home you are considering directly with Somerville Public Schools, and use the state education department's (DESE) district profile for official enrollment and program information.

04

Tax and the residential exemption

Somerville's FY2026 residential rate is $10.98 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $1,098 a year for each $100,000 of assessment before exemptions. The City's residential exemption for owner-occupants was 35% in FY2026, saving a qualifying owner up to $4,578. To qualify, you must own the home and occupy it as your principal residence on January 1 before the fiscal year, and you must apply; the City lists April 1, 2027 as the FY2027 deadline. A unit you rent out does not qualify, so if you buy a multi-family house and live in one unit, ask the assessor how the exemption applies.

For a condominium, add the monthly fee and any planned assessments to the tax, and check whether the seller's bill reflects the exemption, since your own bill may differ. Check the assessor for the current fiscal year's rate before you budget.

ON YOUR NEXT VISIT

What to check in person.

  • ↗ Walk to Davis, Assembly or the nearest Green Line station
  • ↗ Area plan covering the address, if any
  • ↗ Conversion permit for a recently converted unit
  • ↗ 6(d) certificate, budget and reserves
  • ↗ Historic district or demolition review status
  • ↗ Residential exemption eligibility and deadline

PAST SALES

Closed sales in Somerville

All sales ↗

All 2 published closed-sale records for Somerville, including seller and buyer representation. Each card identifies Kelly’s role and the closing date.

Sources for this guide

City of Somerville · Adopted plans ↗MBTA · Green Line Extension ↗MBTA · Green Line E branch ↗MBTA · Orange Line ↗City of Somerville · Condominium Review Board ↗City of Somerville · Condo conversion ordinance amendments ↗City of Somerville · Condo conversion relocation fees (February 2026) ↗City of Somerville · Office of Housing Stability (HSNA notices) ↗City of Somerville · Historic Preservation ↗City of Somerville · Assessing ↗City of Somerville · FY2026 property tax mailer ↗Mass. DESE · Somerville district profile ↗FEMA · Flood Map Service Center (search by address) ↗Mass. DLS · Tax rates by class, FY2026 ↗

Official sources as of 2026-10-29. Tax figures are base amounts before exemptions, any Community Preservation Act surcharge or other bill adjustments; ask for the property’s latest bill. Figures such as tax rates and fares change; confirm school assignment, permits, zoning and travel for the exact address and intended date.

← All community guides

LET’S BEGIN

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Call or email Kelly to discuss your plans.

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(857) 250-5463