Either-Or: Battery Wharf vs. Oak Bluffs

Welcome to Either-Or, where we compare two listings with the same price—one in Boston and one outside. Build your own conclusions.

Battery Wharf photo by Leslee on Flickr. Oak Bluffs photo courtesy of Redfin

Exorbitant housing costs in Boston are nothing new. It’s really, really expensive to live here. With tiny condos going for millions without a second thought, it’s entirely possible that Bostonians are becoming conditioned to accept outrageously high prices.

To remind you that price tags in Boston are a special breed, we present these two homes listed at the same price. The first is a condominium in the residences at Battery Wharf. The spacious dwelling boasts quite a few amenities. The second is a grand Victorian overlooking Ocean Park on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a battle of two waterfronts—and $3,195,000.

The Snapshot Comparison

Photos courtesy of Redfin

The luxurious living space overlooking Boston Harbor includes a dining room, a kitchen with two ovens, a walk-in pantry, a whirlpool soaking tub, a spa-style shower, a master bath overlooking the harbor, and a private terrace.

The “Ocean Park jewel,” as it’s referred to, has two levels of wraparound verandas. If those views aren’t enough, almost every room in the house offers a peek of Nantucket Sound. Built in 1880, the home has been recently renovated and restored.

According to new research by data startup NeighborhoodX, the least expensive properties in Martha’s Vineyard’s nearby Edgartown were priced more affordable than the average listing price in Dorchester. On the other hand, the most expensive listings in Edgartown line up pretty evenly with the most expensive properties in Cambridge’s Kendall Square. Yikes.