Is Trowbridge St area safe? (Cambridge, Somerville: house, rental, work)

[teeea]

I'm looking to move either to mid-Cambridge or Brookline. Right now, I'm looking at places to move to near Harvard, Kirkland, or Cambridge Street. Does anyone know how safe Trowbridge Street is? I've read on a police report that there have been break-ins, but was this the lower or upper part of Trowbridge. Also, how safe it is to walk between Cambridge Hospital and Harvard square T stop say around 10 pm? I've had my bag stolen from me so am a little nervous about walking. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

[MovingForward]

Trowbridge nearer to Mass. Ave. is perfectly safe. Great street to live on, in fact.

Don't know the answer to your other question, though--sorry.

[teeea]

Thanks for you reply MovingForward. If anyone else can comment, on the other questions too, I'd really appreciate it! You guys are great.

[willdufauve]

I've never liked Trowbridge Street. Snob city.

When I was about 18, I sat down on the edge of a lawn next to the sidewalk on Trowbridge to re-tie my shoe. It was a wicked hot summer day and I was just sitting in the shade for a few seconds, long enough to tie a shoe, when the old bag in the gray Victorian on the right came over shouting at me to get out like I was some kind of hobo setting up camp for the night.

I'll never forget her. It's funny how some people think to treat a kid who's not doing anything wrong. Any way, if there's a string of burglaries there I won't lose any sleep over it. What goes around, comes around. Property tax must be enormous there, too.

[MovingForward]

You have a bad experience with one person and you wish ill on everyone who lives there? Way to go.

[willdufauve]

Yes. Thank you for your comment. I knew you would appreciate my wry observation of karma.

So, you read a post you don't like, get cranky and have to belch it out? Way to go.

[goyguy]

Trowbridge is in two segments, one between Mass. Ave and Broadway, the other between Cambridge St and Kirkland. Most of the rentals (at least the relatively affordable ones) are on the Mass. Ave-Broadway stretch. That portion of the street gets a fair amount of traffic due to a lot of people's using it as a connector from the big Mt Auburn/Putnam/Mass. Ave intersection. But the number of cars also heightens a sense of security, because although the neighborhood is largely safe you're still in a city and the street's not especially well-lit.

Urban dwellers tend to be aloof toward passing strangers for the most part, but when the main library was open on Broadway I used Trowbridge St (from Mass. Ave) to reach it. The people who lived in the last house before Broadway struck up a casual friendship with me - we'd solve the world's problems in ten minutes or less, they on their porch and me on the sidewalk. At about the midpoint of that part of the street, a stray cat once took refuge under some front steps and proceeded to give birth there. Passersby enjoyed the antics of the kittens, who along with their mom easily found home placement. The residents of the house saw to that, but before the young 'uns were weaned the mother cat was kept well fed by their friendly host humans who also were happy to pass the time with folks walking by. But are there snobs on Trowbridge? No doubt about it. The same variations in personality can be found living on any street.

Walking between Cambridge Hospital and Harvard Square shouldn't be problematic, no matter what the hour. The street stays pretty busy 24-7. On nights of extreme tiredness or nasty weather, the Lechmere/Harvard bus stops right in front of the hospital. Or, you're a short walk away from Inman Square and buses to Union, Porter, and Central Squares.

Other nice streets for apartment-dwelling in that vicinity include Line St (literally - Somerville on one side, Cambridge on the other); Highland or Maple Ave's; and Lee, Antrim, Fayette, or Bigelow St's.

[teeea]

Thank you so much everyone! Goyguy, That was very helpful. I guess a city's a city and break ins will happen everywhere. Sounds like the area is relatively safe nonetheless and it's fine to walk in the late evenings - girls included, which is my primary concern. I wonder if the upper less affordable section are mainly owned by Harvard and thus less affordable? Hmmm....

Sorry to hear about your childhood stint with the old lady willdufauve. Must have been traumatic.

[charolastra00]

I spent last summer on Holden Street right at the Kirkland-Beacon intersection. Even walking back from the T at midnight pretty much every weekend, I never had a problem. There were generally people around. During the school year, I'd imagine it'd be even busier with all the college students. I also worked in Central Square and walked in between on all the roads and never felt unsafe.

This is coming from a college student who grew up in a rural area and goes to a suburban college and that was my first time living alone at 19. I'm pretty aware of my surroundings and as a female, I felt completely comfortable. Also, all up Kirkland there are police call boxes. They're technically for Harvard students but if you ever felt at all unsafe, I wouldn't hesitate using one. There also might be some up Cambridge Street but I'm not sure.

[septimus]

I think Trowbridge is a nice area. That said when there were break ins and muggings in my part of Cambridge I actually felt safer. There were numerous times I was basically "escorted" home by the police. The police car basically drove beside me my entire walk home from the T.