Union Square
Somerville's most transformed neighborhood — the new Green Line station, a booming restaurant scene, and the raw energy of a place that's changing fast.
About Union Square
Union Square is ground zero for Somerville's transformation. For years, it was a commercial square with amazing ethnic restaurants — Brazilian, Haitian, Salvadoran — but no transit access, which kept a lid on prices. The Green Line Extension changed everything. The new Union Square station, which opened in 2022, connected the neighborhood to the entire MBTA system and triggered a wave of development that's still accelerating. New mixed-use buildings are going up along Somerville Avenue. The restaurant scene has exploded: Bronwyn (German beer garden), Celeste (Peruvian), and Bow Market (a collection of micro-restaurants and shops in a converted industrial space) have made Union Square a food destination. The old guard — Brazilian bakeries, the Reliable Market, the auto shops — still holds ground, creating a fascinating blend of old and new. For buyers, Union Square is a bet on transit-driven appreciation with asymmetric upside.
Property Character
Triple-deckers and multi-families on the residential streets, with new construction condos and mixed-use buildings rising near the T station. Active development pipeline. Older homes tend to be unrenovated and priced accordingly — opportunity for sweat equity.
Typical Home Styles
Best For
Local Highlights
- •Brand new Green Line station — the catalyst for the neighborhood's transformation
- •Bow Market — a one-of-a-kind collection of micro-restaurants, shops, and bars
- •One of the most diverse dining scenes in Greater Boston
- •Active development pipeline with significant new housing and retail
Getting Around
Green Line at Union Square station — direct service to Lechmere, Government Center, and beyond. Bus routes 85, 86, 87, 91. Bikeable to Kendall Square and Inman Square in minutes.
Schools
Somerville Public Schools. East Somerville Community School nearby. The neighborhood's demographics are shifting rapidly — school enrollment patterns are changing accordingly.
Explore more of Somerville
Union Square is just one part of what makes Somerville special.