Community Corner

Boston Is Home Of 2nd Most Expensive Zip Code In U.S.: The HUB

Also: Boston gets its Christmas tree | 13-year-old boy shot three times | Kim Janey's advice for Michelle Wu | More.

The 02199 neighborhood encompasses the Prudential Center area of Back Bay. It's the second most expensive ZIP code to live at in the United States.
The 02199 neighborhood encompasses the Prudential Center area of Back Bay. It's the second most expensive ZIP code to live at in the United States. (Matthew Huang/Getty Images)

The HUB is a daily newsletter designed for what you want — to be caught up on the most interesting, important news in 5 minutes or less. It's a little bit of this, a little bit of that, but if there's something you want more or less of, email me at jimmy.bentley@patch.com.


Today is Friday, November 12. Let's get started.

Boston was already a pretty expensive place to live, but amid the coronavirus pandemic, prices skyrocketed even more. And now, one of Boston's ZIP codes, 02199 to be exact, is the second most expensive ZIP code in the United States.

Find out what's happening in Bostonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The 02199 neighborhood encompasses the Prudential Center area of Back Bay. And to buy a home there, you most likely have to be a millionaire. According to the Property Shark real estate blog, the median home sale price in the 02199 is $5.5 million.

Home sale prices across Massachusetts have rapidly increased during the pandemic, peaking in July and August. Prices have plateaued since then, but six other Massachusetts ZIP codes are also in the top 100 for most expensive nationwide.

Find out what's happening in Bostonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Read more from the Boston.com


Top stories

Thanksgiving hasn't even happened yet, but that hasn't stopped Boston from getting ready for the Christmas season. The city's official Christmas tree, which will be on display at Boston Common was cut down in Nova Scotia. The 60-year-old. 48-foot-tall tree will be lit up during a ceremony on Dec. 2.(Boston Patch)

The official Christmas tree on Boston Common is one of several holiday symbols around town. The city also will sponsor lighting events in Copley Square, Christopher Columbus Park, Martin's Park and on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. (Getty Images)

A 13-year-old boy was shot three times in Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood Wednesday night. The boy is expected to survive, but the shooting marked the third in Boston in what has shaped up to be a violent week for the city. (NBC10 Boston)

The mayoral and City Council races in Boston might be over, but now City Hall's competition shifts to who will be the council's president. Three city councilors are jockeying for the council presidency. They include Richard Arroyo, Kenzie Bok and Ed Flynn. All three are now trying to gain support from the other councilors, so the Boston Herald's Sean Philip Cotter gave residents an inside glimpse on where the hopefuls stand. (Boston Herald)


What MA legislatures are up to on Capitol Hill

Massachusetts' two senators and a congressional colleague wrote a letter Tuesday to President Joe Biden urging him to use his executive authority to pardon all individuals convicted of federal non-violent cannabis offenses. In the letter, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, both of Massachusetts, and Jeff Merkley, the Oregon Democrat, wrote that by issuing such a pardon, Biden would be following through on a campaign promise. (Boston Patch)


Local voices

"The work is nonstop, so it is important to take those moments for your family to-- for just some self-care. You know, making space for joy. I launched the Joy Agenda as part of my administration.

You know, the Joy Agenda recognized that, you know, dealing with COVID for almost two years now, that there was so much devastation and isolation, and we really needed to be intentional about coming together to reconnect, to rebuild, to rejuvenate, to restore our souls.

It's deeply rooted in African American culture and tradition, understanding how difficult things are. That joy comes in the morning always, and that we've got to be intentional about creating that space for joy so that we can get up and do the hard work." - Acting Mayor Kim Janey's advice for Mayor-elect Michelle Wu. (WCVB Boston)

Across Massachusetts

The Massachusetts State Senate on Wednesday voted unanimously in support of "Nero's Law," a bill that would allow injured police K-9 units to receive emergency medical care and transport from paramedics. The bill is named after Yarmouth K9 Nero, Sgt. Sean Gannon's dog, who was shot in the face and neck when Gannon was fatally shot during a police standoff in 2018. Nero ultimately made a full recovery, but he had to wait four hours before a retired K-9 handler could arrive at the scene and get him to a veterinarian for surgery. (Barnstable Patch)


Weather: The National Weather Service says showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Some storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. High near 64. Breezy, with a southeast wind 17 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.


– Jimmy Bentley

About me: Jimmy Bentley is a Massachusetts and Rhode Island field editor for Patch covering Cape Cod, Braintree, Barrington, East Greenwich, East Providence and North Kingstown. He was a reporter at the Plympton-Halifax Express and interned for Patch while earning his master's at Emerson College. In his free time, Jimmy hits concerts (sometimes reviewing them for Patch), watches movies and plays ice hockey.

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