Where to live after graduation? (Boston, Cambridge: rent, how much, house prices)

[twentyfour]

I will be graduating college in May '09 and hope to own/rent a house by the fall with a few friends. I am wondering, what is a good area for us to live in. Here are our preferences:

-South or west of Boston
-Not in the city but a relatively easy commute
-A decent nightlife/young crowd, but nothing too busy/crazy
-Relatively inexpensive house prices

I have been thinking that Quincy will be a great choice. Any other ideas?

[holden125]

Quincy has three of your four items, but not particularly any nightlife or a young crowd that I know of. You might want to check out Watertown--some bars, etc. with a younger crowd right in the town, plus an easy bus ride to Harvard for more nightlife and the T to Boston.

[FinkieMcGee]

If I was you, I'd just rent a place in Cambridge or something. You're not going to live in a college town or anything and you'll be able to go to bars and clubs without a DD or blowing lots of money on cab rides. Boston is built in a way that if you have to drive in at all it's automatically not a relatively easy commute, especially since you have to find/pay for parking.

What do you mean by relatively inexpensive rent?

[jake786]

cambridge and brighton are your best bets... cheap housing, young people around, accessible to boston via public or car transportation...local bars too

[HoneyRyder]

I have heard Brighton is very noisy and full of college students.

[CrowGirl]

Brighton is generally very noisy and full of college students but there are degrees. Right next to BC - noisy and full of college students. The area by the Kells (I can't remember the name of the intersection) - noisy and full of college students. However you can find some decent prices (or at least when I lived there 5 years ago) in the area about half way in between them. Also if you lean toward the Brookline side of Brighton there are some nice quiet streets but you are still in easy walking ditance of the fun areas of Brighton and Brookline. Prices will still eb higher than Quincy, but should be less than Cambridge.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by HoneyRyder

I have heard Brighton is very noisy and full of college students.

The biggest misconception in Boston, except maybe that all of Dorchester is deadly. Brighton has tons of students by Cleveland Circle, along Comm Av, and maybe very close to Allston. Brighton Center and Oak Sq. are quiet and hardly a student (other than a responsible grad student) to be found. I have lived there and have very good friends who've been there for years. I have spent many a Friday or Saturday night in their kitchen or yard and never once had any issue with noise coming from elsewhere on the block. I know another guy who lives near Monastery Rd. and that is both quiet and easy walking distance to the B line.

The Kells is Allston. Allston is completely different animal.

[CrowGirl]

The Kells is Allston. Allston is completely different animal.

That's right!!! Sheesh how quickly I forget!

[smarty]

Wow... one could predict where the job is in a year? If I know US economy is like this a year ago... I would have sold all my stocks, house, .... and rent... If you have a job in the north like Andover... would one still live in Brighton, Quincy, ....?

If you do work in Boston... There is nothing wrong with Quincy... it will meet all criteria. you mention... you want a "few" friends sharing? How many are a few? Are you guys ready to take care of a house?

As to what others suggests... it depends on how close you want to be and how much you want to spend... for what size and comfort home... For example, $1500... do you want 2 bed, 1800sq ft, with swimming pool, garage parking, gym, snow removal, concierge service, landscape, ....

[twentyfour]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

Just to clarify, I am more of a Sunday football/cookout kind of guy than a city guy (got that one from Holden) and hope to have a house with a deck, small yard and a decent amount of privacy. That is why I prefer a more suburban place like Quincy than the city atmosphere of Brighton or Cambridge.

Watertown sounds like a nice alternative however. Can somebody fill me in by comparing Quincy and Watertown, or offering any other suggestions. Keep in mind that I want to stay south or west of Boston, not north. Thanks.