Somerville, MA

Somerville, Massachusetts

Introduction to Somerville, Massachusetts

Somerville Massachusetts is an industrial city located northwest of Boston and adjacent to the city of Cambridge. A population of well over 70,000 living within an area comprising slightly over 4 square miles makes Somerville the most densely populated city in New England. Once part of neighboring Charlestown, Somerville became incorporated as a separate town in 1842 and in 1872 the town was incorporated as a city. The ensuing years saw the city's population grow in leaps and bounds, aided by the establishment of street car lines and a burgeoning prominence of heavy industry which took root in the city. Like its neighbor Cambridge, Somerville is defined by its city squares, which mark the neighborhood boundaries and also house unique centers of business and entertainment. Among these are Davis Square, Ball Square, Union Square, Teele Square, and Magoun Square.

Attractions in the Somerville Area

Home to a thriving arts community, Somerville hosts a series of arts-related events throughout the year. ArtBeat takes place in the midst of the summer heat (third weekend in July), when artists and patrons converge on Davis Square to celebrate one of the area's largest arts festivals. Featured are music, crafts, dance, food, and much more. The Somerville Arts Council hosts events which showcase community involvement in homegrown arts. One example is the Illuminations Tour, an annual trolley tour of holiday light displays. One of Somerville's most notable cultural sites is the Somerville Museum, which chronicles Somerville's roots with historical exhibits and artistic displays.

Neighboring Cambridge, home to both Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is rich in cultural attractions of its own. Among them are the Longfellow House (former home of the famed poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), the Museum of Science, Harvard's Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, and the Busch-Reisinger Museum. The greater Boston metropolitan area boasts many world-class attractions, including the following:

• The Freedom Trail
• Old North Church
• Faneuil Hall
• Fenway Park (home of the Boston Red Sox)
• The New England Aquarium
• The USS Constitution
• The Museum of Fine Arts
• The Boston Children's Museum
• Franklin Park Zoo
• John Hancock Tower
• John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library
• Paul Revere House
• Prudential Center

Boston is also a world-class center for professional sports. Major league teams resident in the city include the Boston Celtics, holders of numerous NBA basketball championships; baseball's Boston Red Sox (MLB), and the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins. Also in the city are the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and the Boston Lobsters of World Team Tennis (WTT). The town of Foxboro (30 miles to the southwest) is the home of the NFL's New England Patriots and Major League Soccer's New England Revolution.

High Points

Somerville strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Massachusetts):

Category	Trophy
Public Transportation Use (vs. Peers)	Top 1%
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers)	Top 2%
Racial Diversity (vs. State)	Top 6%
Well-Paid Single Women (vs. Peers)	Top 17%
College Educated Adults (vs. Peers)	Top 19%

Comparative Profile of Somerville, MA

Comparing Somerville to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Massachusetts (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Well-Paid Single Women
Well-Paid Single Men
Male Share of the Population
Racial Diversity
Female Share of the Population
Senior Citizens
Age of the Population
Children Under 5 Years Old

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
People in Middle Class or Better
Median Family Income
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Public Transportation Use
Walking and Biking to Work
Working at Home
Short Commute Times

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
People Living Alone
Affordability of Property Taxes
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Affordability of Rents
Housing Recently Built

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

Somerville Almanac

Somerville Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Somerville Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Somerville Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Political Contributions (2004)

Money donated by Somerville residents to parties and candidates for the 2004 elections.

by Political Party

by Presidential Candidate

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Somerville, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Starbucks in Somerville

Somerville High Schools (2004)

SOMERVILLE HIGH
81 HIGHLAND AVENUE
617-625-6600
Serves 1,666 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 12.2

PROSPECT HILL ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
15 WEBSTER AVENUE
617-284-7800
A charter school.
Title I eligible, not participating.
Serves 733 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 10.8

FULL CIRCLE HIGH SCHOOL
11 OTIS STREET
617-625-6600
A Non-traditional School
Serves 50 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 6.3

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