Housing as an HDS Student

Committing to graduate school comes with many additional questions. One of the most common and important questions is: where will I live? Incoming students are often hesitant to navigate the Boston/Cambridge rental market. This post will cover three questions to consider as students navigate this process and a few of the options available to them.

In what cities or towns should I search for housing?

Many students choose to live in Cambridge, Somerville, Allston, and Boston due to the convenience of a short commute to HDS, flexibility in academic commitments, and proximity to acclaimed sites within the Greater Boston area. However, the cost of rent, the closer you are to campus/main sites may rise. Some students may choose to live further out in the greater Boston area in areas such as Medford and Quincy, which have higher square footage and cheaper pricing. However, this can come at quite a large cost in your ease in getting to campus or events. Your transportation options will be more limited and take longer. 

How do I find a roommate?

Most HDS students have a roommate to make living in closer locations cheaper, to build community, and other conveniences. Many graduate students find their roommates through joining Facebook groups, such as Harvard University Off-Campus Housing and Cambridge MA Housing, Rooms, Apartments, Sublets, Roommates. Harvard students, MIT students, young professionals, and other graduate/undergraduate students will create posts that will: 

1. Look for roommates to find an apartment
2. They have found an apartment they have toured and/or put a security deposit down and are looking for people to join them in signing a lease
3. There is an open room available in an apartment that is already established. It is important when joining Facebook groups to always double check listings and people to avoid being scammed. 

What resources are there to help in my search?

A helpful resource for off-campus housing is the Off-Campus Housing Service database. This is an online database with listings of rental opportunities offered by private landlords and real estate agents. This database is free and there is a section where Harvard affiliates can search for a roommate. As Harvard University Housing (HUH) engaged Off Campus Partners to manage this service, however, none of the rental listings are reviewed. 

Harvard University Housing does offer on-campus housing for Harvard affiliates. They have a lottery system and specific deadlines for securing a spot. The Harvard University Housing website provides more detailed information about this process. There are pros and cons to living in HUH Housing. For example, some find that the rent price is above market value. Others enjoy the convenience of no utilities and generally prime location spots. 

Ultimately, whichever option you choose, please conduct your own research and verify all the information you receive. While some lease dates are flexible; however, most leases begin on September 1 and have a one-year duration. Incoming students should begin searching for housing as soon as they commit to HDS, as the rental market is competitive.