Boston, September 16, 2025
News Summary
In Boston, there is an unusual rise in vacant apartments near universities just weeks before the fall semester. Local real estate professionals link this trend to a predicted decline in international student enrollment. Certain neighborhoods are experiencing vacancy rates substantially higher than last year, prompting concerns about potential economic impacts on the rental market and university budgets. While Boston’s overall vacancy rate remains low, specific areas around campuses show marked increases in available units as landlords seek to attract tenants.
Boston
Hundreds of apartments located near colleges and universities in the Boston area are unoccupied just weeks before fall move-in, a sharp and unusual rise in vacancy that local real estate professionals link primarily to a predicted decline in international student enrollment. The trend is concentrated in neighborhoods that traditionally rely on student renters, and industry observers warn of wider economic and institutional effects if international enrollment falls as projected.
Key details
Real estate agents and property managers report a notable increase in vacant units near university campuses despite the approaching start of the academic year. Examples cited by local brokers include a property in Kendall Square remaining empty for 45 days and more than 70 apartments currently empty in the Mission Hill area. Similar increases have been reported in Fenway and Symphony Hall neighborhoods, with availability near Symphony Hall more than doubling from last year.
Citywide, Boston continues to report a low overall vacancy rate of 1.74%, among the lowest in the country, but the rental market immediately surrounding colleges is showing significantly higher and growing availability. Cambridge has experienced a 20% increase in availability compared with last year. Kenmore Properties indicates a sharp drop in international student clients, historically around 50% of its clientele but falling to roughly 20% this year, according to company representatives.
Local market impact
In neighborhoods that depend heavily on student renters, landlords and leasing brokers have offered incentives to attract tenants, but many units remain unfilled. Brokerage reports indicate some recent upticks in international renters, suggesting a possible partial recovery, yet vacancies remain notably above last year’s levels in several campus-adjacent neighborhoods. Mission Hill availability has increased by more than 90% year over year.
Causes identified
Multiple industry sources and property managers point to issues impacting international students as a key cause. These include changes to visa processing, long appointment backlogs at consulates and embassies, and restrictions on travel and policy shifts that have made enrollment decisions more uncertain. Concerns among prospective and current international students also include uncertainty about visa renewals and potential enforcement actions by immigration authorities, which has influenced decisions to delay or cancel U.S. study plans.
Economic and institutional effects
International students contribute an estimated $4 billion annually to the Massachusetts economy. National projections suggest international student enrollment could decline by as much as 40%, a drop that may translate to a loss of more than 12,000 students in Massachusetts alone. Such a reduction could affect university budgets, local rental markets, and jobs linked to campus services and housing.
Responses and outlook
Universities have not released their annual enrollment figures, which are expected later in the fall. Massachusetts officials have publicly emphasized support for international students amid concerns about immigration enforcement. Local realtors and property managers report continuing anxiety in the market, with some expressing hope that larger vacancy inventories might eventually ease rental prices, although citywide rents have not decreased.
Industry contacts report ongoing efforts to assist clients abroad who face visa delays and to attract domestic renters to campus-area listings, but acknowledge uncertainty while visa processing and policy issues remain unresolved. Observers caution that the full scale of the impact on campuses and the regional economy will become clearer only after official enrollment numbers are released.
What to watch next
- Official university enrollment releases expected later this fall.
- Visa processing timelines and consular appointment backlogs that could affect late-arriving international students.
- Local vacancy and rent reports for campus-adjacent neighborhoods through the coming months.
FAQ
Why are so many apartments near Boston universities empty?
Industry sources attribute the vacancies primarily to a predicted decline in international student enrollment driven by visa processing delays, appointment backlogs, and policy changes that have made travel and study arrangements more uncertain.
How many apartments are vacant in affected neighborhoods?
Counts vary by neighborhood; Mission Hill has more than 70 empty units and availability there has increased by over 90% year over year. Symphony Hall area availability has more than doubled, and Cambridge has seen about a 20% increase compared with last year. Exact totals depend on each neighborhood and property.
Are rents falling in Boston because of these vacancies?
Despite higher vacancy rates around colleges, overall rent prices in Boston have not decreased significantly. The citywide vacancy rate remains low at approximately 1.74%.
What is the potential economic impact of fewer international students?
International students contribute nearly $4 billion annually to Massachusetts. A significant drop in enrollment could affect university revenues, local housing demand, and jobs tied to campus services and housing, with projections showing potential reductions of thousands of students statewide.
When will universities release official enrollment numbers?
Universities generally release annual enrollment figures later in the fall. Those releases are expected to provide clearer data on the scale of international student changes this year.
Neighborhood vacancy snapshot
| Neighborhood | Approx. current vacancies | Year-over-year change | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Hill | More than 70 | +90%+ | Significant jump in availability compared with last year |
| Symphony Hall area | Data not specified | More than doubled | Availability reported to be over 100% higher than last year |
| Fenway | Data not specified | Above last year | Availability up compared with previous year |
| Cambridge | Data not specified | +20% | Moderate increase in available units year over year |
| City of Boston (overall) | Data not specified | Stable low vacancy | Citywide vacancy rate approximately 1.74% |
| Kenmore Properties (client base) | Not applicable | International clients fell from ~50% to ~20% | Illustrates sharp decline in international student demand for one firm |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Boston Launches Office-to-Residential Conversion Program
Boston’s September 1 Moving Day Causes Urban Congestion
Boston Housing Construction Slows Significantly
Additional Resources
- Boston.com: Apartments Could Sit Empty
- Wikipedia: International Students in the United States
- NBC Boston: International Students on Edge
- Google Search: Boston MA International Students
- Boston 25 News: Hundreds of Apartments Remain Empty
- Google Scholar: International Students Enrollment Decline Boston
- Boston Globe: International Graduate Students and Rentals
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Immigration
- MassLive: Foreign Students Reconsidering Boston
- Google News: International Students Boston Vacancies
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
