Kingston, MA 1 Apartments for Rent

Kingston was designated a "Green Community" in 2010 in recognition for the town's renewable energy programs. It was one of the first communities to receive this distinction from the Federal Department of Energy Resources.

Kingston, Massachusetts is a small town on the southeast coast of Massachusetts, located in Plymouth County. The town center is home to about 5,600 people but the larger town itself has about 12,600 people as of the 2010 census. The whole town is about eighteen and a half square miles of land. Located just 35 miles south of Boston, this is one of the oldest settled communities in the country. Though the town was incorporated in 1726, before that it was simply known as the North Precinct of the Plymouth Colony. The Wampanoag Indians held this land before the Mayflower arrived and several Native American burials sites have been uncovered in the town of Kingston. Once settled by the colonists, Kingston went on to become a colonial boat-building center, building ships for the American Revolutionary War. In fact, the USS Independence was built right in Kingston on the Jones River. You'll see references to the ship throughout the town. Kingston is still home to the longest continuously operating boat yard in North America at Jones River Landing. In modern times, Kingston has become a residential community and suburb of Boston. However, there are still a few professional fishermen around and the area also boasts some agriculture, mostly in the form of cranberry bogs, so get your fishing poles ready!

Moving to Kingston

Kingston really grew up from its rural routes in the 1950's, when the State of Massachusetts built Route 3 to connect the City of Boston to Cape Cod. The route took this major roadway right through the eastern side of Kingston and brought to the area new business as well as residents looking to get out of the city.

Transportation In and Around Kingston

Another big push towards modernizing Kingston came when the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Association ran the new Kingston/Plymouth commuter rail line down to the south. Kingston became an even more attractive place to live and to commute into Boston from. Today the rail line allows residents easy access to all the arts and entertainment offered in Boston. State Route 44 also runs through the southern edge of town and is a direct route east to Providence, Rhode Island, about 45 miles away.

The Apartment Rental Market in Kingston

There's good news and then there's bad news when it comes to rental property in Kingston. So bad news first: you will be hard-pressed to find any apartment complexes in this town. Most of the available rentals are in the form of apartments in homes or you'll be looking at rental houses. You may be able to find studio apartments or a 1 bedroom apartment for rent in one of the many large Colonial-style homes that have been broken up into smaller units. When you start looking in Kingston, just be sure this is the type of living you want. Some people do like the complex style of living with the pool, fitness center and other amenities, but Kingston offers something a little more personal. See, it's mostly good news.

What You'll Need

To move into an apartment for rent in Kingston you'll need the usual documentation such as ID and proof of income. Since the agreement will likely be a private one, you may not have to fill out an application and you will likely be presented with a standard rental agreement. You may want to have it looked over by a professional, but in most cases nothing will come as a surprise. You will probably have to come up with first and last month's rent and a security deposit, which can be as much as another month's rent. Planning ahead ensures that you know what to expect, and can have the cash on hand to make the move.

When to Move

There are no seasonal fluctuations to speak of in Kingston, though cottages near the water may be more available for short-term leases over the winter. You should probably allow two to three months to perform your apartment search since inventory is low and the rental options are so varied. It may take you a while to find something you like.

Neighborhoods of Kingston

Kingston may have that small town feel -- indeed it is a small town -- but you still have options within the city limits. Check out what Kingston has to offer in terms of neighborhoods to decide what kind of life you want to live.

Rocky Nook- Kingston Shores: Located on the water of Kingston Bay and close to the town beach at Gray's Beach Park, this neighborhood has smaller summer cottages and bungalows with small lots. Many of the homes are updated cottages from the 1900s to the 1940s that are now year-round residences. It's best to check the condition of these before renting, especially the insulation!

Ah De Nah: This is a Wampanoag word meaning 'a good place to stay'. This area is also known as 'the Nook' and is located near the Kingston and Duxbury town line. The homes are all single-family residences and there is a mix of styles including Capes, Bungalows and Contemporaries. From here there is good access to Route 3, the water and the town center.

West of Route 3: The rest of the town is away from the water and this can be a good thing in winter. You will find these areas very rural with homes on large lots. You will likely be looking at a single-family home rental here.

Living in Kingston

There's plenty of outdoor recreation in Kingston. The town has built an extensive trail system. Also, trails in Kingston are linked into the Bay Circuit trail with a section of this larger system running through town.

The Town of Kingston Recreation Department has plenty of programs for residents young and old, including Little League and softball. There is a large and well-run athletic field complex in the north end of town as well as several parks like Sampson Forest & Memorial Park and the Bailey Memorial Playfield.

No waterfront town is complete without a boat ramp and a beach. In Kingston there are several areas that provide water access. The Town boat ramp and marina are at the end of River Street and the Town Beach is at Gray's Beach Park. The beach is open to the public and the park also has slides and swings, basketball courts, tennis courts, walking path, picnic tables and a snack bar.

There are two large grocery store chains in town; Hannaford's and Stop & Shop. Both are located on business loop 3A. The Independence Mall is located just off Route 3 in southern Kingston and has big box stores such as Macy's, Target and Sear's. There are also local favorites like Newbury Comics.

You will have your pick of fast food restaurants in town with McDonald's and Papa Gino's up by the northern end of Route 3A and Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken at the southern end. If you are looking for something a little more local, there's no need to head out of Kingston. Solstice has become a local favorite for its atmosphere and its food. The restaurant is in a restored train depot from the 1900's, complete with exposed brick walls. It is located on 3A just outside the town center. If you're looking for great Italian fare, Carmela's gets rave reviews. It's located on 3A just as it crosses under Route 3 in the southern end of town. On Saturday nights there is live music so you don't have to go into the city!

No matter what criteria you use, Kingston comes out on top as a very, very fine place to live!