Areas in Cambridge to avoid (Harvard, Avon: condos, crime, neighborhoods)

[mjgandthree]

Are there areas that are not safe to live in with small children in Cambridge? If so what areas?

[septimus]

I would avoid Area 4. It is basically the area north of Mass Ave from Prospect to Main St.

[mjgandthree]

What is wrong with Area 4?

[septimus]

area 4 is where most of the crime is located and the schools that you get a preference for in the lottery system are the lowest performing schools in Cambridge. If I had small kids I look at Huron Village, Riverside, Aggasiz, Cambridgeport and Mid-Cambridge neighborhoods

[hiddenboston]

I'd rather not focus on areas to avoid, as it is all a matter of perspective (and plenty of good people live in the "rough" areas, so instead I'll mention what I consider to be some of the safest places to live:

Huron Village
Mid-Cambridge (streets between Inman Square and Broadway)
Avon Hill (behind Porter Square)
North Cambridge between Porter and Davis Squares
Agassiz neighborhood (off of Mass. Ave. between Porter and Harvard)
West Cambridge (especially near Brattle Street)

Keep in mind that most of these areas are very expensive to live in. Huron Village and Mid-Cambridge do have some reasonably-priced housing, but mostly in the form of condos.

[Mark8251981]

stay away from anywhere near central square