Welcome to Mission Hill! Before you start unpacking those boxes, taking a moment to understand the local geography will make navigating your new home a lot easier. First, a fun geographical fact: the physical elevation you are actually living on is officially named Parker Hill. The neighborhood itself derives its “Mission” moniker from the towering Mission Church located at 1545 Tremont Street, although its formal title is the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. As you explore, you will quickly notice that “Brigham Circle”—the busy crossing of Huntington Avenue, Tremont Street, and Francis Street—is just a standard intersection rather than an actual traffic rotary, despite the large decorative circle painted on the asphalt.

If you live on the slope between Fisher Avenue and Heath Street, you reside in the sub-neighborhood known as the “Back of the Hill” (and no, there is no corresponding “Front of the Hill”). You might also find yourself at Roxbury Crossing, which specifically refers to the local MBTA Orange Line station and the branch post office for the 02120 ZIP code, rather than a separate, standalone neighborhood.