Which city is Harvard University located in?
I was looking at Harvard for my college list, but I'm a little confused about its exact location. Is Harvard University actually in Boston, or is it in a different city nearby?
I keep hearing people refer to Harvard as being in both places, and I don't want to mess up my research for different cities and neighborhoods. Has anyone visited the area or can tell me more about what city Harvard is actually a part of? I’m trying to figure out possible travel plans and what living there could look like if I end up applying.
I keep hearing people refer to Harvard as being in both places, and I don't want to mess up my research for different cities and neighborhoods. Has anyone visited the area or can tell me more about what city Harvard is actually a part of? I’m trying to figure out possible travel plans and what living there could look like if I end up applying.
1 week ago
•
19 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 1 week ago
Advisor
Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, not Boston. While Boston and Cambridge are neighbors, with the Charles River separating them, they are distinct cities with their own local governments and neighborhoods. The main undergraduate campus (Harvard College) sits in Harvard Square, which is the heart of Cambridge.
You'll find that people sometimes say "Harvard's in Boston" because Boston is the more widely recognized city and is directly adjacent. In fact, if you go to Harvard Square and cross the river, you'll be in the Boston neighborhoods of Allston or Back Bay in just a few minutes. But for anything official—like your college applications, mailing addresses, or planning where to live—Harvard is in Cambridge.
Visiting Harvard Square feels a bit like being in a lively college town within a bigger city. The area has plenty of coffee shops, bookstores, student hangouts, and easy access to the MBTA (the 'T', Boston's subway system), which connects you quickly to downtown Boston. As an example, a lot of Harvard students live in Cambridge but spend weekends in Boston for concerts, sports games, or food.
If you're thinking about living arrangements or the character of the area, Cambridge is generally quieter and more residential around campus, but you still have all the big-city amenities nearby. So, when researching neighborhoods, focus on Cambridge and places accessible via the Red Line subway if you want to be close to college life.
You'll find that people sometimes say "Harvard's in Boston" because Boston is the more widely recognized city and is directly adjacent. In fact, if you go to Harvard Square and cross the river, you'll be in the Boston neighborhoods of Allston or Back Bay in just a few minutes. But for anything official—like your college applications, mailing addresses, or planning where to live—Harvard is in Cambridge.
Visiting Harvard Square feels a bit like being in a lively college town within a bigger city. The area has plenty of coffee shops, bookstores, student hangouts, and easy access to the MBTA (the 'T', Boston's subway system), which connects you quickly to downtown Boston. As an example, a lot of Harvard students live in Cambridge but spend weekends in Boston for concerts, sports games, or food.
If you're thinking about living arrangements or the character of the area, Cambridge is generally quieter and more residential around campus, but you still have all the big-city amenities nearby. So, when researching neighborhoods, focus on Cambridge and places accessible via the Red Line subway if you want to be close to college life.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years