Any cities similar to Boston? (real estate, housing, rent)

[skrazzle]

Basically I love Boston, I like how it is very old world in design and places like Beacon Hill. I like places that have the old world style.

I currently live in Kansas City, my girlfriend and I have been looking to move to a place that has less sprawl, good public transportation (lightrail/subway), and more walkability.... I'd really like to live somewhere that doesn't require me to drive to much to get around, but also has nature and places to get out to if I wanted to get away for the weekend.

Not to mention, while we don't want a huge yard, a place that we could get a house with at least a small yard for our dogs.

We are both in college and work full time. No degrees, she is a banker and I work in Network Ops. Combined income is around $65000 a year. We are currently living with my parents to save money and when we move we will have around $35000 saved up and zero debt.

Doing a lot of research on Boston however, I feel it would be unrealistic to move there and find a house or townhouse we could afford while still in college. Does anyone know of any other cities that are similar yet not costly? Boston it seems will need to wait until we have completed our doctorates.

I almost feel that to get what we want there is nothing in the US or Canada, we have even considered possibly Prague or Tallinn.

[K-Luv]

It is totally possible to live in Boston or the surrounding area within your salaries. It might help if you found a third room mate, but still it all depends on how exquisite of a life-style you live--as long as you do not eat out twice a day or go to a bar every night or own four cars or only wear designer clothes etc, etc.

Comparable cities, though, would be San Francisco and Chicago.

[skrazzle]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

It is totally possible to live in Boston or the surrounding area within your salaries. It might help if you found a third room mate, but still it all depends on how exquisite of a life-style you live--as long as you do not eat out twice a day or go to a bar every night or own four cars or only wear designer clothes etc, etc.

Comparable cities, though, would be San Francisco and Chicago.

I've had a hard time finding anything on real estate in google searches for some reason. We have 2 cars, but we own them. We could bring her sister in as a roommate. We don't eat out twice a day but do like to go out to dinner usually once a week, we don't HAVE to though.

Basically we want to be able to have a decent place, enjoy the city, and be able to save a bit of money while in school, that would be great if we could do that in Boston, I just didn't think it would be possible?

[MovingForward]

It would not be possible, probably, to save money while you are in college in Boston. By "college," do you mean graduate school? Have you already been accepted to a program? Where you end up attending college will determine, in large part, where you live. A decent 3-bedroom apartment in a decent neighborhood in the Boston area will run you $1500-$1800/month. San Francisco is even more expensive than Boston, but Chicago might be a little cheaper (but not by much).

Also: There are other small cities/towns in New England with the same "feel" as Boston, if what you're looking for is "old New England."

[skrazzle]

Originally Posted by MovingForward

It would not be possible, probably, to save money while you are in college in Boston. By "college," do you mean graduate school? Have you already been accepted to a program? Where you end up attending college will determine, in large part, where you live. A decent 3-bedroom apartment in a decent neighborhood in the Boston area will run you $1500-$1800/month. San Francisco is even more expensive than Boston, but Chicago might be a little cheaper (but not by much).

Also: There are other small cities/towns in New England with the same "feel" as Boston, if what you're looking for is "old New England."

Sorry I just call everything college. I have not tried to get accepted to any school yet as we are uncertain of where we want to relocate. By savings I didn't mean paying off school and saving money. We plan to get loans for school, and yes graduate school. However we wouldn't be going to school the first year most likely.

$1500-1800 a month is not bad at all in my opinion. Any areas you suggest looking?

And what other places in New England have the same feel?

[ogre]

You might try Providence and vicinity. Providence is kind of like a smaller Boston in terms of general atmosphere and character, and you're likely to find somewhat cheaper housing there than in Boston. Realistically, there aren't as many colleges in Providence as you'll find in the Boston area, but the colleges that are there offer a range of possibilities, from a basic kind of college like Rhode Island College, to a well-regarded, good private school (Providence College) to the elite level (Brown). There's also commuter rail from Providence to Boston. Check mbta.com for the timetables. I took a quick look at the schedule, and about an hour and fifteen minutes one way looks typical, a few minutes less on some runs. If you don't live too far from the train station, this makes for a somewhat long, but do-able, commute that might well make some of Boston's colleges accessible in addition to those in Providence. Best of luck.

[Stef11001]

You can definitely scoop up a place in the city for less than 1500-1800 you just realllly have to look. My boyfriend and I share a place in Beacon Hill for under 1300. It is very small but it is nice, all util. included, and it underwent a full renovation last year. You can also get a cheaper place in the South End that has brownstones similar to Beacon Hill for less $. Also, I would not compare Boston to Providence at all. Boston is way more diverse and has a much bigger nightlife. If you are still thinking Boston, I'd go for it .Hope this helps!

[LeavingMA]

Other similar cities are Philadelphia and Baltimore. Both have lots of history and old-world charm.

[timunh]

Originally Posted by skrazzle

Basically I love Boston, I like how it is very old world in design and places like Beacon Hill. I like places that have the old world style.

I currently live in Kansas City, my girlfriend and I have been looking to move to a place that has less sprawl, good public transportation (lightrail/subway), and more walkability.... I'd really like to live somewhere that doesn't require me to drive to much to get around, but also has nature and places to get out to if I wanted to get away for the weekend.

Not to mention, while we don't want a huge yard, a place that we could get a house with at least a small yard for our dogs.

We are both in college and work full time. No degrees, she is a banker and I work in Network Ops. Combined income is around $65000 a year. We are currently living with my parents to save money and when we move we will have around $35000 saved up and zero debt.

Doing a lot of research on Boston however, I feel it would be unrealistic to move there and find a house or townhouse we could afford while still in college. Does anyone know of any other cities that are similar yet not costly? Boston it seems will need to wait until we have completed our doctorates.

I almost feel that to get what we want there is nothing in the US or Canada, we have even considered possibly Prague or Tallinn.

I wouldn't want to live in Tallinn. It's nothing like Boston. One is a hub of European-style socialism, and the other is in Estonia

[ChunkyMonkey]

As a current resident of the undisputed capital of European socialism... Sweden, I have to laugh at your reference. You have no idea

Outside of Quebec City, I think Boston is the most European in city layout, attitudes and architecture.

I agree that probably Philly is the most comparable in terms of size and history. I don't think Chicago has the kind of historical housing stock as Boston. Philly does, but may not be as polished and is somewhat grittier. Some people like that better than the Disneyesque perfection of Beacon Hill and Back Bay. However, the quality of Boston rowhouses and bowfronts are among the best if not the best in the country IMO.

Prague's architecture is in a whole different league. IMO, Prague has Europe's best architecture, even better than Paris. It is truly spectacular.