Either-Or: The North End vs. Newport

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

Photos courtesy of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and Hogan Associates

To remind you that price tags in Boston are a special breed, we’ve been presenting two homes listed at the same price from time to time. This round, it’s a battle of two centrally located abodes, where the decision comes down to a preference in popular New England destinations.

The first is a sparkling condo across from Polcari’s Coffee in the North End. It’s situated along the hustle and bustle of Salem Street, yet is separated from it all by a small courtyard. The second is an antique cottage by the sea in Newport, Rhode Island. Built in 1840, the place is brimming with charm. Both share a price tag of $699,000.

The sunny unit in the North End boasts exposed brick in the bedroom, a breakfast nook in the kitchen, and built-in seating in the living room. It sizes up to 902 square feet, and makes enough space for one and a half bathrooms. There is no yard or deck, but to be fair, the home is within smelling distance to Boston’s finest Italian restaurants.

A little more than 70 miles south in Newport, the quaint 1800s cottage is tucked away on a narrow street near the waterfront. At 1,666 square feet—just under double the size of the North End condo—the place feels surprisingly spacious. It mixes time-honored details with contemporary updates like a lofted bedroom, skylight windows, and a modern kitchen. Here, a just-big-enough grassy yard squeezes in a shed and a small patio.

The biggest difference between the two properties can be found in the price breakdown. The house in the Ocean State asks $420 per square foot, a relative bargain compared to Boston’s condo, which is almost twice as expensive at $775 per square foot. The right choice, it seems, depends on which waterfront neighborhood you’d prefer to stretch your dollar in—amidst perfectly powdered cannolis or in the company of yachts and sailboats.