Boston, MA

Average Boston rent down for first time in years — but still over $3K

Published

2 months ago

December 9, 2025

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Average Boston rent down for first time in years — but still over K

Real Estate

Vacancies are the highest they’ve been since the COVID-19 pandemic, but the city’s average asking rent still clocked in at $3,043 in October, according to Bloomberg.

A sign advertising for Marc Roos Realty in the Fenway. Nathan Klima/The Boston Globe, File

By Abby Patkin

December 9, 2025 | 3:56 PM

2 minutes to read

Boston’s rental market has tipped ever-so-slightly in renters’ favor, partially owing to out-of-state migration, a cooling biotech industry, and tighter student visa restrictions, according to a recent Bloomberg report.

On the one hand, vacancies are the highest they’ve been since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the average rent in Boston has dipped for the first time since 2021, Bloomberg reported.

On the other, the city’s average asking rent still clocked in at $3,043 in October, and reporting from The Boston Globe indicates that rents in Boston’s urban core have risen sharply between 2022 and 2025, despite the recent slowing.

Still, decreasing demand has left landlords dangling price cuts and other concessions in a bid to lure tenants.

Over in Cambridge, according to Bloomberg, a three-bedroom unit near the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been sitting vacant for more than five months — even with a price cut from about $4,200 a month to $3,550. Landlords elsewhere are going into bargaining mode: new tenants at Luka on the Common in the Theater District can get one month free and a $500 gift card, while renters who sign a 17-month lease at The Indie in Allston can get up to three months free.

Desperately needed additions to the region’s housing supply have helped ease demand; Boston’s metro area added 8,600 units over the past year, about 20% higher than its 10-year average, Bloomberg reported, citing RealPage Chief Economist Carl Whitaker.

But according to the news outlet, it’s “economic jitters” driving down rents — not an oversupply of new developments.

The recent reversal follows years of growth fueled by the region’s biotech industry, now beset by plunging valuations, layoffs, and cuts to federal research funding. Separately, as Bloomberg noted, immigration raids and student visa restrictions have taken their toll on international student enrollment, leaving some of Boston’s college-heavy neighborhoods emptier than usual.

“I’ve been doing real estate and technology for 30 years. I’ve never seen anything like this,” Demetrios Salpoglou, CEO of Boston Pads, told Boston.com in August. “It’s very acute. It’s not impacting all neighborhoods … it’s really proximity to a lot of universities that have a heavy reliance on foreign money or foreign enrollment.”

Adding to the uncertainty, Massachusetts was one of just two states that saw negative employment growth for the 12 months ending in August, according to Bloomberg. And while it remains unclear how long tenants will have the upper hand, there’s a push underway for a 2026 ballot question that would tie annual rent growth to cost of living increases, with a 5% annual cap.

In the meantime, according to Bloomberg, landlords and agents are hoping to see leasing activity bounce back in the new year.

“Everyone’s anxiously waiting to see what happens in the spring,” Damian Szary, an executive at the real estate firm Redgate, told the news outlet.

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.

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Boston, MA

Celtics, Bucks celebrate history in inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic

Published

5 hours ago

February 2, 2026

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Celtics, Bucks celebrate history in inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic

The Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks honored the 75th anniversary of the breaking of the NBA’s color barrier Sunday by squaring off in the inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic.

The game spotlighted Basketball Hall of Famers Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd, who were the first Black players to be drafted, sign an NBA contract and appear in an NBA game, respectively.

Players for both teams wore shooting shirts with Cooper, Clifton and Lloyd’s names emblazoned on the back. Each uniform featured a “Pioneers Classic” patch above the nameplate and a “1950” patch beneath the rear jersey number.

The three legends’ names and jersey numbers also appeared on the TD Garden court and on the stanchion beneath each basket. Relatives of Cooper, Clifton and Lloyd joined Jaylen Brown on the court for a pregame address.

“Today is the NBA’s first Pioneer Classic, and it’s an honor to speak on the behalf of some of our legends — Nat Clifton, Earl Lloyd and (the) Boston Celtics’ Chuck Cooper,” Brown, who went on to tally 30 points and 13 rebounds in a 107-79 Celtics win, told the Garden crowd. “… A pioneer, by definition, if a leader, is an innovator and a forward thinker. Who will be the pioneers of this generation? On the behalf of the NBA, I want to say thank you — thank you, Boston. Let’s have a good game.”

Cooper played four seasons for the Celtics from 1950 to 1954.

“When you coach the Celtics, we’ve had just high-character people and have history and have had a tradition in many different forms,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said pregame. “And when you’re helping move that forward, you just have a responsibility to the people who came before you to move it forward. One, to be appreciative of what those before you have done on and off the court, and then the second piece to that is doing your part and moving that forward and kind of leaving it better.

“You don’t have a situation like this if you don’t have the people that have come before you. So that’s important. And I think the league is the same way. We’ve had great people come through this league, influential people, and just taking advantage of the opportunity you have to move forward is an opportunity we’re given.”

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, who coached the Celtics from 2004 until 2013, saluted Red Auerbach during his pregame news conference. Auerbach drafted Cooper in the second round in 1950 — his first draft as Boston’s head coach — fielded the NBA’s first all-Black starting five in 1955 and hired Bill Russell as the league’s first Black head coach in 1966.

“What I think Pioneers Day represents, to me, is America,” Rivers said. “Red Auerbach is responsible for our achievements as much as anyone else. He didn’t see color. He wanted to make the league a better league, and he kept doing it — hiring Bill Russell as coach. I mean, you think about this city that’s had its ups and downs race-wise, but you have this one guy. And I got it a little bit, but when you come here and you coach here, boy, you really get it with Red. You really get what he was about. And so Pioneers Day, first game being here, for me, obviously, being a coach here for nine years, means a lot.”

The Celtics also honored Auerbach and Russell during the game. Auerbach’s granddaughter, Julie Auerbach Flieger, and Russell’s daughter, Karen Kenyatta Russell, were recognized on the court during a first-quarter timeout.

Rivers said the Pioneers Classic is “good for history.”

“Because we live in a time right now where our history is being, you know, whitewashed, a lot of it,” he said. “And I think you learn a lot through history. You have to. I think that’s our problem. We need to teach history, whether it’s bad or good. Need to teach it more.”

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Boston, MA

Syracuse lacrosse vs. Boston University: Live score, updates

Published

17 hours ago

February 1, 2026

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Syracuse lacrosse vs. Boston University: Live score, updates

Syracuse, N.Y. — The Syracuse lacrosse team takes on the Boston University Terriers at 1 p.m., Sunday in the JMA Wireless Dome.

The game will be available to stream on ACC Network Extra.

See in-game team and individual stats here.

Note: Refresh this page throughout Syracuse’s game vs. Boston University to see the latest updates

First quarter

Syracuse 1, Boston University 1 – 6:23

BU goalie Connor Phillips appeared in just three games as a freshman in 2025. Now handling the starting gig, Phillips held strong against the Orange early, making three saves on four shots.

Through the first quarter, Spallina attempted anything to get going. He moved the ball three times with a behind the back pass, and shuffled a one-handed pass out of desperation once the shot clock fell under 10 seconds.

Syracuse 1, Boston University 1 – 9:35

The Orange struck iron on their first shot but retained possession on the groundball. After Finn Thomson missed a shot off a crafty pass from Spallina, SU scooped the ball up again. As the shot clock dwindled, Luke Rhoa worked downhill and beat Connor Phillips low to take a 1-0 lead 90 seconds in.

Syracuse made a stop defensively after BU hit the post too, and the Orange missed the mark on their next shot as Thomson was called for falling into the crease.

Back on the other end, the Terriers tied it up as Ethan Hart found nylon.

Opening faceoff

Multiple offseason position battles were answered quickly. With Ryan out to start the season due to a foot injury, senior Jordan Beck slotted in alongside Dwan and Figueiras. Anderson began on the attack with Deere down and Tyler McCarthy worked into the midfield.

Syracuse secured the opening faceoff on a violation from the Terriers, taking first possession.

Pregame

Syracuse’s 2025 season began with a pushover game against former goalie John Galloway and Jacksonville. The Orange led within two minutes of the opening faceoff and never looked back as a 10-0 run to start the contest ballooned into a 25-4 win. To kickstart 2026, SU faces a much tougher task.
Out of the Patriot League, the Terriers rank No. 17 per Inside Lacrosse to begin the season. Boston University lost its leading scorer, Jimmy O’Connell, to graduation, but returns three Preseason All-Patriot League players in Connor Kehm, Andrew Pape and Timothy Shannehan.
The two squads scrimmaged ahead of the 2025 season, where sophomore attack Payton Anderson remembers the Terriers matching SU’s physicality with a 10-man ride. Head coach Gary Gait emphasized BU’s 10-man ride as a top challenge the Orange will face in the season opener.
“That’s their bread and butter,” Gait said Friday. “Putting pressure on you to clear the ball and try and decrease your number of possessions.”
Syracuse returns a plethora of key contributors from its 2025 ACC Tournament title and Final Four run in senior captains Joey Spallina, Finn Thomson, Billy Dwan III and Riley Figueiras. Additionally, Michael Leo, Luke Rhoa and Jimmy McCool bring experience in high-pressure situations.
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Gait pointed to the Orange’s short-stick defensive midfield as the “biggest question mark” entering the season. SU lost Carter Rice to the Professional Lacrosse League and brought in Ohio State transfer Dante Bowen to likely fill the void.
Sophomore Cam Ryan was slated to fill the third defensive spot next to Dwan and Figueiras, but will begin the year on the shelf with a foot injury. The season-ending injury to Trey Deere from a car accident adds intrigue for Syracuse’s attack, opening with Owen Hiltz also moving on to the professional ranks.
Syracuse warmed up in Orange long-sleeve shirts with the slogan “Burn the Boats” on the back. Sporting the mantra against a school from Boston is quite ironic. Though it showcases SU’s “us against the world” mentality, entering a pivotal fifth season under Gait. Its quest toward its first national title since 2009 begins versus the Terriers.

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Boston, MA

Boston Police Blotter: City snow slowly but surely getting removed

Published

1 day ago

February 1, 2026

Press Room

Boston Police Blotter: City snow slowly but surely getting removed

The Boston Police Department reported a lower-than-usual number of incidents in the 24-hour period leading up to 10 a.m. Saturday, which could be attributed to temperatures in the single-digits and the massive amount of snow still on the ground.

But Boston Public Works says they’re on the second one.

“No rest for the weary! After another successful night of large-scale snow removal across #Boston, PWD district continue work today removing snow banks and clearing alleys, crosswalks & crub ramps to improve safety and accessibility,” the city department reported Friday.

They were at it again Saturday, when they reported they had cleared more than 2,667 loads of snow from city streets — totaling 41,168 cubic yards.

Incident Summary

BPD responded to 178 incidents in the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. Saturday, according to the department’s incident log. Those included three aggravated assaults and 18 instances of miscellaneous larceny.