How many coffee shops are there in Boston's busiest areas?
We counted 287 coffee shops within 1 km of the centres of 10 Boston areas. North End is the most crowded at 15.3 per km²; Jamaica Plain is the least, at 1.6.
Mapped
287
in 10 areas
Busiest area
15.3/km²
North End
Average rating
4.1★
places with 10+ reviews
Last scanned
13 October
2026
Coffee shops by area, most crowded first
Measured within 1 km of the centre: LOW under 5, MODERATE 5–15, HIGH 15–40, INTENSE over 40 places per km².
| Area | Within 1 km | Per km² | Avg rating | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North End4.1★ average | 4815.3/km² | 15.3 | 4.1★ | HIGH |
| Beacon Hill4.1★ average | 4614.6/km² | 14.6 | 4.1★ | MODERATE |
| Back Bay4.2★ average | 4012.7/km² | 12.7 | 4.2★ | MODERATE |
| Seaport4.2★ average | 4012.7/km² | 12.7 | 4.2★ | MODERATE |
| South End4.2★ average | 3310.5/km² | 10.5 | 4.2★ | MODERATE |
| Fenway4.0★ average | 237.3/km² | 7.3 | 4.0★ | MODERATE |
| Harvard Square4.2★ average | 237.3/km² | 7.3 | 4.2★ | MODERATE |
| Allston4.1★ average | 165.1/km² | 5.1 | 4.1★ | MODERATE |
| Charlestown4.2★ average | 134.1/km² | 4.1 | 4.2★ | LOW |
| Jamaica Plain4.5★ average | 51.6/km² | 1.6 | 4.5★ | LOW |
Where is it least crowded?
5 coffee shops within 1 km (1.6 per km²), averaging 4.5★.
- CharlestownLOW
13 coffee shops within 1 km (4.1 per km²), averaging 4.2★.
- AllstonMODERATE
16 coffee shops within 1 km (5.1 per km²), averaging 4.1★.
Fewer coffee shops is not the same as more demand. Look at foot traffic and rents before you read a quiet area as an opening.
How they are rated
All 287 coffee shops in the 10 areas, by rating. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up62 (22%)
- 4.0 to 4.4138 (48%)
- 3.5 to 3.946 (16%)
- Below 3.528 (10%)
- Under 10 reviews13 (5%)
Chains seen most
Brands with two or more outlets inside one area circle.
- Dunkin'39 outlets · 9 areas
- Starbucks Coffee Company25 outlets · 7 areas
- Tatte Bakery & Cafe19 outlets · 7 areas
- Caffè Nero11 outlets · 4 areas
- Pavement Coffeehouse5 outlets · 2 areas
- Blank Street3 outlets · 1 area
- Koko Coffee2 outlets · 1 area
- The Well Coffee House2 outlets · 1 area
- Thinking Cup2 outlets · 1 area
- Gong Cha2 outlets · 1 area
Check competition at your exact address — free
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Questions
Is Boston saturated with coffee shops?
It depends on the street. Within 1 km of the 10 area centres we mapped, density runs from 1.6 per km² in Jamaica Plain to 15.3 per km² in North End. 1 of the 10 areas counts as high or intense competition (over 15 per km²). Check the exact address you have in mind before you commit.
Which Boston area has the most coffee shops?
North End, with 48 within 1 km of its centre (15.3 per km²). Next come Beacon Hill (46) and Back Bay (40).
What is the average rating of coffee shops in Boston?
4.1 out of 5, across the 274 coffee shops with at least 10 reviews in the areas we mapped. The highest area average is Jamaica Plain (4.5), the lowest Fenway (4.0).
Which coffee shop chains are most common in Boston?
In the areas we mapped: Dunkin' (39 outlets in 9 areas), Starbucks Coffee Company (25 outlets in 7 areas), Tatte Bakery & Cafe (19 outlets in 7 areas).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of each area on 13 October 2026 and counted every coffee shop on the map inside it. Places missing from the map or opened since are not counted, so treat the numbers as a floor. Circles of neighbouring areas can overlap, so a place near two centres is counted in both, and the figures are not a total for the whole of Boston.