Funnest/Most affordable areas of Boston for someone in their early 20's

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by JKterps123

Thanks Flowbe...some very good advice. That was another concern of mine...changing over my registration etc for parking reasons. Its a total pain in the ass considering I don't necessarily have a timetable on how long I will or want to live up there so that is definitely a factor. My sister has somehow gotten away with living in San Diego for 3+ years with Maryland tags lol...but parking is definitely a lot easier out there.

Massachusetts has a personal property tax on cars known as the excise tax. By not registering your car here you essentially become a tax cheat. If you are an MA resident, you need to register your car here, parking issue aside. Would you be the only one who breaks this law? Probably not. Also remember your auto insurance company could deny claims if you've been lying about your address.

I guess the general consensus is to stick to some of the western parts of the city like Cambridge and try to find a steal on the parking/rent etc although on the weekends getting downtown might take a bit longer. As far as crime etc. I know it is almost negligible to Baltimore but where does Cambridge/Somerville compare to other parts of Boston?

Cambridge and Somerville are safe but there are pockets of homelessness which can cause quality of life issues in certain areas.

[semiurbanite]

Originally Posted by Dm84

Cambridge and Somerville are safe but there are pockets of homelessness which can cause quality of life issues in certain areas.

Oh come on, QOL issues? You mean the inconvenience of not being able to sit on bench where someone may be napping? Or maybe having to say "not today" to the guy selling a Spare Change newspaper? And if you are really lazy, yea the MBTA elevators smell bad.

Listen - the OP can either move to Somerville, or move somewhere else for a year and then realize he wants to move to Somerville

[bjimmy24]

Allston gets old really fast. Way too many undergrads, dirty, and famous for rats and bedbugs, as well as landlords who couldn't care less about you. Avoid.

I live in the Brighton center/oak square area, about a mile and a half from Allston, so I can visit when I want. I wouldn't say my area is particularly "young" but there are two public libraries, a YMCA, some bars (green briar, devlins, porter Bella's, corrib pub, Irish villag, last drop), Brighton common (small, but pleasant) and some decent restaurants (esperia grille for Greek food and Bangkok bistro for Thai, Jims deli is great, and there are some good cafes, like athans and cafe nation. and I'm a 5 minute walk from the Charles. It's the most affordable / biggest bang for your buck in the city. I share a house with roommates for under 600 a person.

But if you're looking for a more hoppin, younger vibe, I'd suggest Davis square in Somerville. Haven't lived there, but it's a fun area and my friends who live there really enjoy it. Beware the rising rents, however.

[flowbe202]

Only problem with Brighton is the commute.

I hate the Watertown/Newton exit if OP would commute on 90/128.

OP could take side roads to Storrow and do Fresh Pond to 2. IDK.

OP is making decent salary the pay-off for living in Somerville with a more direct commute might be worth it.

[JKterps123]

Good deal. Thanks everyone for all of the input...much appreciated! I am going to check out all of these areas when I start looking for places.

[TheseGoTo11]

Originally Posted by flowbe202

Somerville is sorta like Baltimore in my mind...

Somerville does not have a homicide every day, nor does it have an endless sea of abandoned rowhouses. Baltimore also has nothing that can compete with Davis Square. The worst parts of Springfield or Hartford are like Baltimore in my mind.

[flowbe202]

Originally Posted by TheseGoTo11

Somerville does not have a homicide every day, nor does it have an endless sea of abandoned rowhouses. Baltimore also has nothing that can compete with Davis Square. The worst parts of Springfield or Hartford are like Baltimore in my mind.

Not even Baltimore is all bad.

But, as my post said, the dense and quirky parts of Baltimore are like Somerville. No, not Davis, rather old school Somerville and its love for all things vinyl siding, grape arbors over the driveway and BVMs in a bathtub.

Sorry I didn't clarify "not the stabby and druggy" parts of Baltimore.

[Northernest Southernest C]

Originally Posted by flowbe202

Not even Baltimore is all bad.

But, as my post said, the dense and quirky parts of Baltimore are like Somerville. No, not Davis, rather old school Somerville and its love for all things vinyl siding, grape arbors over the driveway and BVMs in a bathtub.

Sorry I didn't clarify "not the stabby and druggy" parts of Baltimore.

Thank you^^^^