affordable white neighborhoods in boston? (middle-class, incomes, where to live)

[aj2474]

The double standards never cease to amaze me.

[miu]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

Shockingly, people of color are allowed to live in all neighborhoods, so it looks like you're out of luck.

Originally Posted by rranger

... And it took six responses before this! Kudos Cantabridgienne! The Boston forum never ceases to amaze me.

Eh. There are so many threads in this forum by people looking for diverse neighborhoods to live in.... and only one of these. And the presence of those other threads suggests that there are more predominately white neighborhoods than ones that are very diverse.

But there aren't really any cheap neighborhoods in the Boston area anymore, and the ones that are... are very sketchy and not very white.

Anyway this thread gets a *shrug* from me.

[ogre]

MIU, I agree with giving the thread a *shrug* and Massnative I do think you make a good point that if we're assuming that the OP just wants to avoid being pretty much the only white person in his neighborhood then it's a reasonable factor to consider.

AJ2474, one issue here is the amount of rent you're prepared to pay. It's very low for Boston. Even with roommates you won't have lots and lots of options. Another point to consider is the question of where you plan to work. If you know where you want to work, it's easier to suggest locations where you'd have a convenient commute. For general recommendations without information on your workplace location, I'd add Brighton to the areas that have already been suggested. West of Market St. (Oak Square, Brighton Center) if you want to avoid noisy undergrad student neighborhoods, and east of Market St., especially around Cleveland Circle and anywhere in the blocks either side of Commonwealth Ave., if you want to be around the student party scene.

[eevee]

ah hell, I'll play along (not doing much else at this moment besides eating lunch). $475/room is too low for basically any area in and around Boston except for a crap apartment in areas like Mattapan or Malden-basically, areas that are far from majority white. if being in a primarily white neighborhood is that important, then the budget needs to be bumped up by at least 50% more, and more possibly doubled.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by eevee

ah hell, I'll play along (not doing much else at this moment besides eating lunch). $475/room is too low for basically any area in and around Boston except for a crap apartment in areas like Mattapan or Malden-basically, areas that are far from majority white. if being in a primarily white neighborhood is that important, then the budget needs to be bumped up by at least 50% more, and more possibly doubled.

Depends. I've got a friend who shares a crummy old single family house in Somerville, not far from Porter and Harvard, with 5 roommates (one in the dining room) and they pay under $500 each. The place is decrepit but the price is right.

[ogre]

Originally Posted by holden125

Depends. I've got a friend who shares a crummy old single family house in Somerville, not far from Porter and Harvard, with 5 roommates (one in the dining room) and they pay under $500 each. The place is decrepit but the price is right.

Which shows that the OP's budget will likely require some compromises in any neighborhood with any demographic profile.

[mudbone]

I don't have a problem with it im black and would not want to be in a all white neighborhhod.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by mudbone

I don't have a problem with it im black and would not want to be in a all white neighborhhod.

Can't agree more. I have no problem living amongst blacks/browns/greens or whatever but considering the wicked world we live in, that doesn't mean no one won't "have a problem" with me being white.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by ogre

one issue here is the amount of rent you're prepared to pay. It's very low for Boston. Even with roommates you won't have lots and lots of options. Another point to consider is the question of where you plan to work. If you know where you want to work, it's easier to suggest locations where you'd have a convenient commute. For general recommendations without information on your workplace location, I'd add Brighton to the areas that have already been suggested. West of Market St. (Oak Square, Brighton Center) if you want to avoid noisy undergrad student neighborhoods, and east of Market St., especially around Cleveland Circle and anywhere in the blocks either side of Commonwealth Ave., if you want to be around the student party scene.

Even in the non-student areas of Brighton you will have student apartments. Doesn't mean you won't find pleasant areas but I would do my homework first, and definitely check it out on a Thursday/Friday night before deciding on a place. Even though Allston/Brighton is not all students, they do drive the rental market there so rents will generally be overinflated with a lot of substandard units. Even Newton will probably have better deals. But like Ogre said, Brighton can be very convenient if you work in DT Boston, Cambridge, etc.

[eevee]

Originally Posted by holden125

Depends. I've got a friend who shares a crummy old single family house in Somerville, not far from Porter and Harvard, with 5 roommates (one in the dining room) and they pay under $500 each. The place is decrepit but the price is right.

and how much are utilities? I rented a room in Medford for $400, but the gas bill alone was nearly $150 per person b/c the apartment was so run down. plus, I'm not sure I'd consider that area a white neighborhood. I used to live by there and some plenty of non-whites. remember, there are several major universities nearby where students of all races attend and faculty of all races teach at. of course, the OP made no specifications whatsoever regarding how white the area should be or if there's one race/ethnicity he'd be okay w/ vs another.

cheapest place I ever lived in was when I rented out a living room for $250/month. granted, this was in Mattapan, I was sharing a 3 bedroom/1 bath apartment w/ 7 people, and the heating bill was quite high (not as high as the Medford apartment)