John F. Kennedy Apartments

55 Essex St, Cambridge, MA · also known as JFK Apartments

John F. Kennedy Apartments is an 8-story housing for older adults at 55 Essex St in The Port, Cambridge, MA, with 80 apartments, built in 1980.

At a glance

• 80 apartments (the municipal assessor (via MassGIS))
• Built in 1980
• 8 floors
• Bedrooms: 69 1-bedroom
• 23,682 sq ft of building area
• 0.76 acre lot
• Assessed at $24,146,100 for fiscal year 2026
• Last sold as a whole for $4,635,000 in April 2002

No homes in John F. Kennedy Apartments are listed right now. Ask Benjamin Realty to tell you when one comes on the market.

Income-restricted housing

John F. Kennedy Apartments is in 44 RAD units (converted 01/01/2015); balance traditional Section 8 PBA, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, with 69 low-income units, in service since 2003. Designation: Elderly/disabled (state designation).

Cambridge Housing Authority: how to apply, waitlists and income limits. How housing assistance works in Massachusetts.

Getting around

Walkability: 100 out of 100, from how close everyday places are.

Closest train and subway stops:

• Central (MBTA Red Line), 0.2 mi
• Union Square (MBTA Green Line D), 0.8 mi
• Kendall/MIT (MBTA Red Line), 0.8 mi

Closest bus stops:

• Prospect St @ Harvard St (MBTA 64 83 91), under 0.1 mi
• Broadway @ Prospect St (MBTA 64 68), 0.1 mi
• Harvard (MBTA 66 71 73), 1.0 mi

Public schools nearby

• Cambridgeport (elementary, grades PK–5), 0.2 mi
• Cambridge Street Upper School (middle, grades 6–8), 0.6 mi
• Cambridge Rindge and Latin (high, grades 9–12), 0.7 mi

The district decides which school serves an address. Distances are straight-line.

Questions about John F. Kennedy Apartments

How many units are in John F. Kennedy Apartments?

John F. Kennedy Apartments has 80 apartments, according to the municipal assessor (via MassGIS).

When was John F. Kennedy Apartments built?

John F. Kennedy Apartments was built in 1980 and has 8 floors.

Are there homes for sale or rent in John F. Kennedy Apartments right now?

None are listed at the moment. Benjamin Realty can tell you when a home in John F. Kennedy Apartments comes on the market.

What is the closest T or train station to John F. Kennedy Apartments?

Central (MBTA Red Line) is 0.2 miles away, in a straight line.

Is John F. Kennedy Apartments income-restricted housing?

Yes. John F. Kennedy Apartments is in 44 RAD units (converted 01/01/2015); balance traditional Section 8 PBA, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, with 69 low-income units. Apply through Cambridge Housing Authority.

Buildings near John F. Kennedy Apartments

• The Holmes Building — 632 Massachusetts Ave, 93 apartments · built 2001 · 6 floors, 0.2 mi
• Harvard Towers — 295 Harvard St, 111 apartments · built 1900 · 10 floors, 0.2 mi
• Winndevelopment — 8–12 Magazine St, 89 apartments · built 1985 · 5 floors · 7 listed now, 0.3 mi
• Frank J. Manning Apartments — 237 Franklin Street, 205 apartments, 0.3 mi
• Kennedy Biscuit Lofts — 96–152 Green St, 142 apartments · built 1920 · 5 floors, 0.3 mi
• Cambridge Court Apartments — 401 Franklin St, 123 apartments · built 1902 · 10 floors, 0.4 mi
• Washington Elms — 131 Washington St, 268 apartments, 0.4 mi
• Swartz Properties — 1 Brookline Pl, 77 apartments, 0.4 mi

More: all 63 large buildings in Cambridge · Cambridge homes for sale and rent · The Port neighborhood guide

Sources

• MassGIS Standardized Assessors’ Parcels (municipal assessors)
• HUD Low-Income Housing Tax Credit database
• Housing authority development tables (EOHLC annual plans and authority sites)
• OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Assessed values and sales are public records from municipal assessors. An assessed value is set for taxation and may differ from market value. Data checked 2026-11-02.

To ask about homes in John F. Kennedy Apartments or book a showing, call Benjamin Realty at (617) 734-5050 or email [email protected].