Living in Chelsea ? (Boston, Springfield, Brockton: real estate, rentals, condos)

[MM530]

I was thinking if anyone had experienced living in Chelsea and commuting to the Boston ( Logan Airport area) . I will be taking public transport and heard it was near Boston proper ?

[scarletfire]

It is near Boston but would be far down on my list of places to live. My grandmother and uncle lived in Chelsea but moved out because of growing crime. Their house was broken into several times in a short time frame and they got the heck out of there.

[Parsec]

I don't think you'll find anyone here who will recommend living in Chelsea, but if you have your heart set on it you should check out the new Box District. It seems to be the most promising new neighborhood there.

[TheWereRabbit]

I'm suprised scarletfire mentions growing crime in Chelsea. I was under the impression Chelsea was becoming pretty gentrified lately. It's definitely close to Logan, and the commute won't be too bad as long as you learn the side roads. Though Chelsea is a tiny city what neighborhood you live in is still probably important, but I'm not expert on the town.

[scarletfire]

Here's a bit of demographic info from the Boston Globe
, MA real estate, rentals, and town profiles -- Boston Globe and Boston.com (broken link)

[beantown00]

chelsea is not the most desirable place for families unless if you absolutely cannot afford east boston. East boston is the closest commute for you if you work at the logan boston airport. You just take the side streets and dont pay tolls. From chelsea you would need to take the MBTA or else drive through the back roads through east boston to get to the airport. Chelsea has some safer parts like Admirals Hill which is semi-gated community with condos and town homes. The schools in chelsea perform under average but likely similar to the east boston schools. Consider renting first to get a feel for the commute and the neighboring people in the area. also look at schoolmatters dot com for school and demographics information. hth !

[Parsec]

Originally Posted by beantown00

chelsea is not the most desirable place for families unless if you absolutely cannot afford east boston. East boston is the closest commute for you if you work at the logan boston airport. You just take the side streets and dont pay tolls. From chelsea you would need to take the MBTA or else drive through the back roads through east boston to get to the airport. Chelsea has some safer parts like Admirals Hill which is semi-gated community with condos and town homes. The schools in chelsea perform under average but likely similar to the east boston schools. Consider renting first to get a feel for the commute and the neighboring people in the area. also look at schoolmatters dot com for school and demographics information. hth !

The toll for East Boston residents is really cheap though -- about 30 or 40 cents. You need a transponder to activate the discount though.

[chelsead]

I moved to chelsea from living in cambridge my entire life. That was three years ago. I really enjoy it. I live near the tobin. I still work in cambridge and find commuting easy, but I drive. A few of my friends take the bus and find it hard in the morning. I take it on occassion and agree. I don't have kids, so I can't say anything about the schools.

Chelsea is very split ethnically. I live in the "white" area I guess. There is a large latino population. That kind of thing doesn't bother me. There are tough areas just like any place around an urban center.

Oh, Chelsea tolls are also 30 cents.

[JasonWerner57]

I am a 29YO professional that commutes to Boston daily for work. Chelsea is the perfect affordable answer to Boston. I live in a brownstone from 1890 with high ceilings and extra space. Rent is around 900.00/Month. The waterfront area near lower Broadway is up and coming. I reccommend buying in this area if you can. It's soon to be the new South End.

[eevee]

Originally Posted by JasonWerner57

It's soon to be the new South End.

nope, sorry, I just can't see this happening anytime soon. Chelsea the new South End? Roxbury has a better chance of being the new South End then Chelsea ever could. but hey, stranger things have happened.

seems like, judging by your previous posts, that you're really pushing for Chelsea. it's cool that you like it so much 9and apparently have inventory there), but it will be a long, long time before Chelsea resembles anything like the South End. Lynn, revere, and Eastie has been "up and coming" for years and still haven't gotten there yet, yet hese locations offer more incentives than Chelsea

I'm sure Springfield will become the next Newton and Brockton the next Lynnfield