East Boston A.K.A. Eastie A.K.A. EaBo (Cambridge: apartment, rental)

[synaesthetist]

My boyfriend and I are considering a place in East Boston for September. I've looked through the posts but I haven't seen many detailed posts about the area (aside from one long, negative rant). I've lived in or around Boston for practically my whole life but it's an area that I just never hear much about, unless it's something negative about being so close to the airport or there being too many immigrants (Nana's a little racist). Internet searching has proved kind of weak for info about the city - mostly just blogs complaining about hipsters calling it "EaBo."

I'd love to hear some testimonials from people who live there or spend a lot of time there. Is it really that crime-ridden? Can a woman in her twenties walk around alone after 9 p.m. without clutching her mace? Will I have to hop on the T every time I want to buy something?

Also, I grew up in Everett, near the projects, so North Shore mentalities and poor people don't really frighten me. In fact, in most cases I prefer them to the pretentious yuppie type.

We're recent college grads and I have a feeling that I'd rather live in the 700sq ft, 1.5 bed apartment in East Boston two blocks from a Blue Line station than a comparably priced 300 sq. ft Studio in Brookline/Allston/Fenway on the (ick) Green Line. If you respond, please don't give me information on other parts of Boston - I know all about them (I've lived in Brookline, Back Bay, Somerville, Cambridge, Everett, Medford, and Malden). I'm just asking specifically about East Boston.

Thanks!

[holden125]

I don't know it inside-out but go over there for my Santarpio's fix from time to time. My impression is that it's generally safe around the Maverick area and the most crime happens north of Bennington St. between the bridges to Chelsea. A friend of my girlfriend, a 28-year old white woman, moved there not too long ago and hasn't had any problems. Another young woman I know works there without any problems either. A lot of the crime happens after midnight. There is not a ton in the way of stores there but I don't think you'd need to take a T to buy everything. There's not a ton of nightlife or anything though.

I remember the negative rant. There are a lot of Latino immigrants in East Boston and it is not the yuppie Back Bay or crunchy JP, which seemed to bother that person a lot.

I'd suggest going over to eat at Santarpio's (early in the week to avoid long waits) if you like pizza, or just going over after dark and taking a walk around to see how you feel. If you're looking for a place, I'd try to stay closer to Maverick and the piers park. Great views of downtown Boston over there too.

[HowGoesIt]

I wouldn't hesitate to live in East Boston. Young people are buying up the rowhomes (and staying away from "loft projects") and fixing them up. I have spent some in East Boston over the past year and it seems fine.

Contact the Boston Police Department and get crime stats on the area. There might have been one or two murders there over the past year, which really isn't too bad. 90% of the crime happens in Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan.

People have different comfort thresholds for what they consider safe. I am unsure what yours is. Drive around the neighborhood at night and during the day and see if you feel safe. Best of luck.

[lz1982]

I know several people who live in East Boston. I do have a friend who was mugged in front of her building near Wood Island, but most--women and men--don't have problems.

There is crime around, but the murder rate is pretty low.

[Teflon Don]

East Boston is alright. Its about as safe as any other Boston town. Lots of immigrants though, so if your'e offended by people owning shops and cant speak English then Eastie is not for you.

[Bostonian08]

I take my family to Constitution Beach regularly. It's very nice. We eat at Royal's, the best fried seafood in town. Eastie is primarily a mix of long established Italian neighbors with and influx of Hispanic. It's safe enough that their teenage kids hang out on the street and beach just like kids do in any small town. Of course teenagers act like teenagers, but we've never had trouble. One gets the feeling there is some secondary security apparatus at work in Eastie if you know what I mean. It's more neighborly than someplace like the Back Bay, so be prepared to meet you neighbors, I don't think they will mind their own business like we do in town. But that could be a good thing too.

Go eat at Royal's (you'll be glad you did) and stroll Constitution Beach. There's a Blue Line stop there. See what you think.

[Coem]

I believe most (but certainly not all) of the violent crime that happens in East Boston is between gangs and people who know each other. I didn't live there, but I did go over there from time to time just to explore and I never felt unsafe. The Maverick Sq area is a little gritty, but elsewhere is fine. Lots of cheap restaurants, mostly Mexican/Central American. Most of the businesses cater to the majority Latino population, so a little knowledge of Spanish might come in handy. There's also a small (used to be bigger) Italian element to Eastie as well. The only thing is that if you don't live near a Blue Line T station, then getting around without a car seems a bit more difficult than other neighborhoods in Boston.

[chesneyfan1]

East Boston is o.k. I lived there for roughly a year with my now (ex)girlfriend right at Orient Heights train station. The fact that it is on the other side of the tunnel makes it a big pain to get in and out of the city. People from East Boston seem to think that it is the "end all be-all" of boston, but it is definitely not. In fact, I almost hesistate to even call East Boston a part of Boston because it is segregrated from everything else. There is not anything to really do in East Boston as far as the nightlife or cultural scene is concerned. You really have to get into the city for that. My recommendation? If you are looking to live somewhere that is OUTSIDE of the city to save a little money then you may like East Boston. If you don't mind having to hop on the train or drive through the tunnel to get into boston, you may not mind it. I found it to be kind of ugly and drab, but that is just my opinion. I had amuch nicer place than what I have now (near the south end) for a much lower rental cost. I guess it all depends on what you like. May I recommend winthrop if you want a really nice area...it is still accessible by the T and is a suburban-like area...i lived in winthrop as well and I was 1 mile from the orient heights t station. i found eastie to be safe, but I wouldn't really want to live there again.

[synaesthetist]

a month later:

Our deal with the people in Eastie fell through rather suddenly (they had so much interest in their apartment that they raised the rent from $1000 to $1200. Is that even legal?)

Anyway, I'm not going to complain because through a family friend, we managed to score a beautiful place in Brookline for only $1300 a month.

Thanks for everyone's help! I'll probably check out East Boston once I'm living in Eastern Mass full time. I never explored it when I was growing up in Everett, so it'll be fun to check out some new areas.