Boston's diverse neighborhoods serve as a political and cultural organizing mechanism. The City of Boston's Office of Neighborhood Services has designated 23 Neighborhoods in the city:

• Allston
• Back Bay
• Bay Village
• Beacon Hill
• Brighton
• Charlestown
• Chinatown/Leather District
• Dorchester
• Downtown
• East Boston
• Fenway Kenmore
• Hyde Park
• Jamaica Plain
• Mattapan
• Mission Hill
• North End
• Roslindale
• Roxbury
• South Boston
• South End
• West End 
• West Roxbury

The islands in Boston Harbor are administered as part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.