Jen Sullivan

Beacon Hill

For a charming and historical neighborhood, look to Beacon Hill. Cobblestone streets and gas lamps transport you to yesteryear, while sky-high prices transport you to modern day Boston. Row houses from the 1800s have been impeccably preserved, with dentil molding, cornices, and marble fireplaces galore.

Buyers seeking “move-in ready” will find turnkey homes, while those wanting a “renovation project” will get a crash course in historic preservation. Everything from window treatments to paint colors must be approved by not one but two historical commissions. But after your parlor’s wood floors have been sanded and staircases have been stripped, you’ll be the toast of the Brahmin cocktail circuit.

Just don’t expect parking, reasonable square footage, or counterspace. For the privilege of living in a museum, you’ll pay a king’s ransom. But on the upside, Boston Commons and Boston Public Garden is just a stroll away.