$4,200/mo
Single roomSingle room in Boston, MA
Boston, MA
~7.4 km from Tufts University
Available from Sep 2026Posted 4d ago
Cameron LaurenceBrokerNew here
Roommates & housing near Tufts University for international students
Tufts' Medford/Somerville campus is surrounded by two- and three-family houses rented room by room, and graduate students mostly live off campus within about three miles. Rooms near campus listed at roughly $900–1,300/mo in 2026, and the Green Line's Medford/Tufts station now links the area to Boston. Since August 2025, tenants no longer pay a landlord's broker fee in Massachusetts.
Tufts University
9 results
Cameron LaurenceBroker
$1,350/mo
Single roomSingle room in Cambridge, MA
Cambridge, MA
~2.3 km from Tufts University
Available from Sep 2026Posted 4mo ago
Jessica MartinezReplies to 81% · within 4h
$1,425/mo
Single roomSingle room in Cambridge, MA
Cambridge, MA
~4.0 km from Tufts University
Posted 3mo ago
Nguyen TranNew here
$1,400/mo
Single roomSingle room in Cambridge, MA
Cambridge, MA
~5.0 km from Tufts University
Posted 3mo ago
Daniel WilsonNew here
$1,525/mo
Single roomSingle room in Boston, MA
Boston, MA
~6.6 km from Tufts University
Posted 2mo ago
Wei ChenReplies to 78% · within 2h
$1,325/mo
Single roomSingle room in Boston, MA
Boston, MA
~6.7 km from Tufts University
Available from Oct 2026Posted 3mo ago
Priya KaurReplies to 85% · within 2h
$1,325/mo
Single roomSingle room in Boston, MA
Boston, MA
~7.0 km from Tufts University
Available from Oct 2026Posted 3mo ago
Jennifer GarciaReplies to 68% · within 50m
$1,375/mo
Single roomSingle room in Brookline, MA
Brookline, MA
~7.8 km from Tufts University
Available from Oct 2026Posted 2mo ago
Aarohi ReddyNew here
$1,525/mo
Single roomSingle room in Brookline, MA
Brookline, MA
~8.3 km from Tufts University
Available from Sep 2026Posted 3mo ago
Ava MartinezReplies to 84% · within 2h
Living near Tufts University: a newcomer's guide
Where to live
Areas students rent in, nearest first
Medford Hillside
The streets directly north and east of campus, packed with two-family houses split into student flats. Shortest walk to class, but units are older and often heated by gas or oil at the tenant's cost.
- Commute
- 5–15-min walk to campus
- Typical rent
- About $900–1,250/mo per bedroom
West Somerville and Teele Square
Residential blocks south of campus between Tufts and Davis Square, with houses shared by graduate students. Quieter than Davis but close to its shops and the Red Line.
- Commute
- 10–15-min walk to campus
- Typical rent
- About $1,150–1,300/mo per bedroom
Davis Square
Somerville's busiest square, with the Red Line to Cambridge and Boston and many shared apartments above shops. Popular with Fletcher and graduate students who commute into the city too.
- Commute
- 15-min walk or Tufts shuttle to campus
Ball Square and Magoun Square
Along Broadway toward the Green Line, with renovated flats and owner-occupied two-families. Good value relative to Davis and close to Ball Square station.
- Commute
- Green Line or 10–15-min walk to campus
Getting around
The MBTA Green Line extension ends at Medford/Tufts station beside campus, with Ball Square one stop south, and the Red Line stops at Davis Square, about a 15-minute walk away. Tufts runs campus shuttles, and buses along Broadway and Boston Avenue fill the gaps.
- Car
- Not needed; Somerville and Medford street parking requires a resident permit, and off-street spaces cost extra.
What it costs
- Room in a shared place
- About $900–1,300/mo per bedroom in 2026 listings on the Tufts off-campus housing service, usually plus utilities
- Also budget for
- Massachusetts landlords may charge only first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit of up to one month and the actual cost of a new lock.
Leases and deposits
- Lease
- Most leases run 12 months and start on June 1 or September 1; summer sublets are common when students leave in May.
- Deposit
- A Massachusetts deposit cannot exceed one month's rent, and it must be held in a separate interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank; the landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends to return it with any lawful deductions itemized. Upfront charges are limited to first month, last month, the deposit and a lock change.
- Good to know
- Since August 1, 2025, a broker hired by the landlord cannot charge you a fee, and landlords cannot charge application or credit-check fees; only a broker you hired yourself may bill you. Complaints go to the Attorney General's consumer hotline.
Campus housing
On-campus housing for graduate students is very limited: full-time first-year Arts, Sciences and Engineering graduate students may apply for transitional rooms in three buildings on the south edge of campus, and Tufts cannot house couples or children. Most graduate students rent off campus, using the Tufts Off-Campus Housing resource to search rooms and sublets.
University housing page(opens in a new tab)Before you move
When to start looking
Medford and Somerville follow the Boston-area cycle, with June 1 and September 1 lease starts; graduate students should search from spring, because Tufts advises against expecting to find housing after arrival.
Your first weeks
If you cannot visit before signing, book a short sublet or a summer room near campus listed on the Tufts off-campus housing service, then view September flats in person; Tufts recommends a trip to the Boston area ahead of time when possible.
Watch out for
A listing that says the tenant pays the broker fee is out of date or unlawful if the broker works for the landlord; ask who hired the broker before transferring any money.
Questions about renting near Tufts University
What do rooms near Tufts University cost on HomiesAbroad right now?
9 rooms are listed right now, at a median of $1,400/mo (from $1,325 to $4,200). 1 of them include bills in the rent.
Do I still need to pay a broker fee to rent near Tufts?
Usually not. Since August 1, 2025, Massachusetts law says the party that hired the broker pays the fee. If a broker lists and shows an apartment for the landlord, you cannot be charged for it. You only pay if you signed your own agreement with a broker to search for you. Report violations to the Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy and Response Division.
Is Davis Square or Medford better for a Tufts student?
It depends on your schedule. Medford Hillside is a short walk to class with the most student houses. Davis Square has the Red Line into Cambridge and Boston, more shops and restaurants, and higher rents, about a 15-minute walk from campus. Ball Square and Magoun Square on the Green Line sit between the two on price.
Can a Tufts graduate student get on-campus housing?
Only a small number. Full-time first-year graduate students in Arts, Sciences and Engineering can apply for transitional rooms in three south-campus buildings through the housing portal, but spaces are limited and Tufts cannot house couples or families. Plan on renting off campus and treat a campus offer as a bonus.
What will I pay upfront for a Medford or Somerville room?
Massachusetts limits upfront charges to first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit of no more than one month and the actual cost of a lock change. On a $1,200 room that could mean up to $3,600 before moving in, so ask whether the landlord actually requires last month and a deposit.
How many people are looking for a room or roommate near Tufts University?
15 people have an open housing request here. Their median budget is $1,450/mo. The most common move-in month is October 2026 (3 requests), so that is when competition for rooms peaks.