# Follen Hill Real Estate: The Ultimate Guide for Young Professionals
Follen Hill is one of Lexington's most sought-after pockets, and in my experience, it's also one of the smartest places for young professionals to put down roots in Greater Boston. If you're thinking about a move here, this guide walks you through the vibe, the housing options, the gathering spots, and the commute, so you can make your decision with real clarity instead of crossing your fingers.
One quick note about the numbers below. Follen Hill sits within the larger Lexington market, so a lot of the detailed data you'll see—median prices, rents, tax rates—reflects Lexington as a whole. Whenever that's the case, I'll flag it for you. Follen Heights, which is the pocket most people mean when they say "Follen Hill," tends to price a bit below the town's priciest enclaves. That's exactly why it appeals to the buyers I work with most often.
What Is the Vibe Like in Follen Hill for Young Professionals?
Follen Hill offers something rare for Lexington: a quiet, tree-lined residential feel that's still within easy reach of everyday errands, green space, and a straightforward commute toward Cambridge and Boston. It leans less "bustling downtown" and more "settled, walkable village"—and that's precisely what most of my young-professional clients are looking for.
When I'm showing homes here, buyers relocating from denser spots like Somerville or Cambridge almost always mention the calm. You trade sidewalk nightlife for morning runs past scenic green spaces like Tower Park and quick weekend stops at local favorites like Wilson Farm Inc for produce and baked goods. The energy here is active and outdoorsy, not late-night.
Let me be straight with you. If you want to step out your door into a nightlife district, Follen Hill isn't that. But if you want a peaceful home base with parks, good coffee, strong schools, and a reasonable path into the city, this is a strong fit.
To set your expectations on the broader market, here's where Lexington stood in June 2026:
Lexington Market Snapshot: June 2026
A headline snapshot of Lexington’s June 2026 housing and rental market, useful for young professionals weighing buy-vs-rent decisions in a high-cost, competitive suburb.
Key indicators as of June 2026
Median listing $$2,395,000
Median sold $$1,726,500
$ per sq ft$568/sq ft
Active listings192
Median days on market27 days
Rental properties112
Median rent$3,958/mo
Those town-wide figures—a median sold price around $1,726,500 and roughly 27 median days on market—set the stage. Follen Heights specifically has carried a median listing price near $1,695,000, which makes it one of the more attainable entry points relative to premium areas like Prospect Hill or Countryside.
What Are Condos and Townhomes Like in Follen Hill?
Follen Hill's housing is anchored by single-family homes, but the modern condos and townhomes that do trade here start around $1M and appeal strongly to professionals who want low-maintenance, lock-and-leave living. Across Lexington, condos and townhomes generally begin in the $1M+ range, while single-family homes run from the high $1M's to $6M+.
Architecturally, you'll find a satisfying mix. There are renovated older homes with plenty of character, alongside sleek newer builds featuring open-concept layouts, updated kitchens, and smart-home features. Newer construction in Lexington typically lands in the $2.5M–$6M+ band, so the condo and townhome segment is often where young professionals find their most realistic foothold.
Here's how listing prices stack up across Lexington's neighborhoods, so you can see where Follen Heights fits:
Median Listing Prices by Lexington Area
Neighborhood-level listing prices show where entry points differ across Lexington, with East Lexington notably lower than premium areas like Countryside and Prospect Hill.
Follen Heights' $1,695,000 median listing price sits well below Countryside ($2,847,000) and Prospect Hill ($2,595,000), and even under North Lexington ($1,799,000). For buyers who want a Lexington address without stretching to the town's ceiling, that gap matters a great deal.
A practical tip from the field: because inventory is tight and homes move quickly, condos and townhomes here often draw competition. When I'm helping first-time buyers, we get financing and expectations lined up early, so we can move decisively the moment the right unit appears.
Where Do People Gather in Follen Hill?
Follen Hill's social life centers on its parks, neighborhood grocers, and cafes rather than a single downtown strip—which is exactly the "village" rhythm that draws people here. Connection happens outdoors and around everyday errands.
On weekends, residents drift toward green spaces like Adams Park , one of the highest-rated parks in the area, for walks, dog time, and casual meetups. For groceries and prepared foods, Wilson Farm Inc functions almost like a community hub. I regularly hear clients describe a Saturday morning there as part of the reason they fell for the neighborhood.
For young professionals, the appeal is that daily life feels convenient and human-scaled. You're not fighting downtown crowds; you're grabbing coffee, hitting a trail, and picking up dinner ingredients without turning it into a whole production. Compared to the denser urban squares of Somerville or Cambridge, Follen Hill trades intensity for ease—a trade my clients rarely regret.
How Is the Commute From Follen Hill to Boston and Cambridge?
Follen Hill's commuters rely primarily on car access to Route 2, nearby bus connections, and the broader MBTA network toward Cambridge and Boston—this is a car-friendly suburb, not a walk-to-the-subway neighborhood. Setting that expectation up front saves a lot of disappointment down the road.
Lexington sits just off Route 2, which feeds directly toward Cambridge and connects to I-95/Route 128 for regional travel and reverse commutes to the tech corridor. Many professionals drive to a park-and-ride or catch a bus route into the Red Line at Alewife, then continue on to Kendall Square, Harvard, or downtown Boston. Cyclists benefit from the nearby Minuteman Bikeway, a genuinely pleasant car-free route toward Arlington and Cambridge when the weather cooperates.
When I advise buyers on where to land within Follen Hill, the commute is usually the deciding tiebreaker between two similar homes. Proximity to Route 2 on-ramps and bus stops can shave real minutes off a daily trip, so we map it against your actual workplace before making an offer.
If you're weighing surrounding markets on price versus commute, this side-by-side is helpful:
Lexington vs. Nearby Market Alternatives
A mixed-metric comparison of Lexington and nearby markets, highlighting that Waltham and Watertown offer lower single-family price bands while still moving quickly.
| Category | Lexington | Newton | Waltham | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median SFH Price | $1.6M–$1.98M | $1.5M–$1.7M | $750K–$875K | $700K–$850K |
| Avg. DOM | 22–26 days | 18–28 days | 20–30 days | 18–25 days |
| Sale-to-List | 102.3% | 101–103% | 100–102% | 101–103% |
Waltham ($750K–$875K) and Watertown ($700K–$850K) offer notably lower single-family price bands with comparable speed of sale, while Lexington's premium ($1.6M–$1.98M) reflects its schools, safety, and reputation. One detail worth noting: the sale-to-list figures for neighboring towns are reported as ranges (roughly 100–103%), whereas Lexington's is a single point at 102.3%. Either way, all of these markets are moving briskly and landing near or above asking.
Is Now a Good Time to Buy in Follen Hill?
If you're a young professional buying in Follen Hill, the market is competitive but not chaotic—inventory is tight, homes move quickly, and preparation is the difference between winning and losing a home. Across Lexington, median days on market sat around 27 in June 2026, with roughly 192 active listings town-wide.
Here's a financial reality worth understanding: Lexington's residential tax rate has actually declined over the past several years, even as home values stayed high.
Lexington Property Tax Rates Over Time
Lexington’s tax rates per $1,000 of assessed value have generally declined since FY2021, though the high underlying home values still translate into large annual tax bills.
Fiscal Year 2021
Fiscal Year 2022
Fiscal Year 2023
Fiscal Year 2024
Fiscal Year 2025
Fiscal Year 2026
Source:Tax Rates - Lexington, MA
The residential rate eased from $14.39 per $1,000 in FY2021 to $12.31 per $1,000 in FY2026. That said, because underlying home values are so high, the total annual tax bill still lands well above national norms. Plan your budget around the value, not just the rate.
Thinking of renting first? That's a common and sensible path here, but go in knowing the premium:
Lexington Rent vs. National Average
Lexington’s average rent is roughly double the national average, an important affordability benchmark for renters and relocating professionals.
Lexington's average rent of roughly $3,946/month is nearly double the national average of $1,951. You may also spot a median rent figure near $3,958/month in the market snapshot above—the two sources measure slightly differently, but both point to the same conclusion: renting here carries a real premium.
My honest guidance for young professionals eyeing Follen Hill is simple. Get pre-approved early, be clear on your commute priorities, and be ready to act. In a market where homes routinely sell at or above asking, the buyers who win are the ones who've done their homework before the listing even goes live. If you'd like help mapping your budget, your commute, and your must-haves against what's actually available in Follen Heights, I'm always glad to walk through it with you.
