Randolph........ (Boston, Cambridge, Brockton: low income, apartment, crime rate)

[ckhthankgod]

what kind of suburban community is it? What parts of Boston is it by?

[clevedark]

I think Randolph has a sizeable Haitian community. I've been to an enormous movie theater there with stadium seating. It's not too close to Boston, probably a good 45 minutes.

[Urban Peasant]

Randolph is an outer ring suburb of Boston, not too close but not too far either. Much of the housing is single family colonials, income bracket is lower middle class to middle class, the population is mixed with yes a sizable Haitian and Caribbean population and also a sizable Asian and large White population (a dwindling Jewish population - Randolph at one time had a large Jewish population too). There are two local bus routes, the #240 to Ashmont Station, and the #238 to Quincy Center Station that connect with Boston's rapid transit system and there is also a commuter rail station at the far end as well.

[CaseyB]

Randolph used to be a somewhat sleepy, nondescript town. Now it has a substantial crime rate due to it's proximity to some of the worst areas of Boston, maybe 20 minutes? Nickname is "Mattanpandolph".

It does have a very nice theatre complex.

[Urban Peasant]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

Randolph used to be a somewhat sleepy, nondescript town. Now it has a substantial crime rate due to it's proximity to some of the worst areas of Boston, maybe 20 minutes? Nickname is "Mattanpandolph".

It does have a very nice theatre complex.

I am not sure if I agree with you about the crime rate being at the level of "substantial". You are right about Randolph's crime rate going up the past few years and the recent holdup at the Burger King at Crawford Square does little to dispel rumours but I really don't think Randolph is nearly as bad as Mattapan or Brockton. It still is quite pleasant in some areas.

The rise in crime has a lot to do with changing demographics, Randolph used to be predominantly middle class White with a sizable Jewish population but in recent years has seen an influx of immigrants and low income residents forced out of high priced, recently gentrified areas of Boston. The long time inhabitants would have to get used to the change before the crime level can go down.

[goyguy]

You can take the child out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the child. Parents in all cultures and from all eras have always thought that little Johnny or Joanne would be safe (or freed) from "bad influences" if only the family lived in a "better" place. Ha! A great deal of what's made Randolph less tranquil - though hardly crime-ridden - is the relocation of AA households from Boston whose adolescent kids' issues made the move with them. Much of what makes the papers reinforces this theory: 16-year old recently moved from Dorchester shot by cronies or rivals from the old neighborhood over whatever petty beef they were having, fight at a school-bus stop instigated by Bostonians with a score to settle involving one of their own who'd - yes - recently moved, etc etc. Will long-time inhabitants get used to the change? Riiiiiiight. Those with the money will vote with their feet more often than not.

The historical precedent to all this is Randolph's having had a reputation for many years as a socially tolerant and multicultural town. After WWII, when Jewish households in Boston moved up the economic ladder and as legal housing restrictions were erased from the books, this affordable community to the south was a logical place to go. Many of the businesses which catered to that population migrated along with it, staying on Route 28 but now on Main St in Randolph rather than on Blue Hill Ave. During the urban unrest and racist "blockbusting" of the late '60s, the exodus from Boston only accelerated, with much of it landing in Randolph. The incumbent White residents who had a problem with that moved away, but most stayed put. "Integration" started around 1962, with the pioneering Black families' first running into difficulties but soon settling in peacefully due to their being economically compatible. Word of mouth then got around in all directions that this was a decent place for anybody to set up housekeeping. By the late 20th century this translated into the addition of notable numbers of Southeast Asians and West Indians to the mix. The longtime presence of a popular Gay/Lesbian nightspot which took over a failed "country club" that never had a golf course but did have a swimming pool signaled social acceptance to yet another segment of humanity. And so it was at the turn of the century that a Vietnamese grocery store and an Italian-run diner and a Haitian-operated clothing shop all wound up sharing space along Main St. Folks from all parts of the globe tended to their Capes and split-levels and Colonials side by side along peaceful tree-lined streets. And the kids attended public schools which may not be a ticket to the Ivy League but do a good job.

Though "integration" has been successful in Randolph up until now, I don't know that the future holds similar good news. A lot of Americans have an urge to dwell in new homes which can't be satisfied by what that town has. Few are eager to make a converted '70s complex apartment their first ownership experience, let alone be a tenant in an unconverted one. The schools in Milton and Braintree are better and those towns are closer to Boston. From what I've observed the north side of town has passed the "tipping point" and will probably hold few Whites before long, with the closing of the beloved Zeppy's baigel (sic) bakery punctuating this assessment. 30-40% of the student population in Randolph is now AA/West Indian, up from 10-20% between the 1960's and '90s. Large-scale social events tend to be segregated: a fundraising walk for disease research drew no one "of color," and the big showy club once known as Lombardo's has mainly "minority" bookings. Add to that some criminal activity when not long ago essentially none existed and you have the makings of a town going downhill.

[CaseyB]

Well, I'd call it "substantial" for a town in suburban Boston. Compare it to it's neighbor the city of Quincy, which has 3 times the population and also changing demographics. Randolph even has higher crime stats that some of our smaller cities like Salem, Malden, Waltham, etc.

I don't understand the comment about the long time residents? They don't seem to be the ones responsible for the growing crime rate.

[Urban Peasant]

I did not mean to put blame on the long time residents for the increase of crime. In fact, it may just as well be the newcomer residents that are chiefly responsible for it. I made that last comment with an assumption that some long time resident families are feeling the pressure of newcomers invading their neighborhood, especially among the young people, and provoking conflicts with the newcomers. Frankly, I am not sure who or what is exactly the cause of the crime but I do strongly suspect the change in demographics and residential income has to do with it.

[Urban Peasant]

A note to Ckhthankgod, I noticed that you post frequently in the Buffalo forum. I am curious to know why you are asking about Randolph. Do you plan to move to this area? Since I assume you are quite familiar with the Buffalo area, I would compare Randolph to some lower class suburban community like perhaps Tonowanda, Kenmore, or West Seneca although as you see some others make it sound like it is another Cheektowaga - a suburb in decline.

Although there is more crime than before, I still honestly think Randolph is not a place to avoid yet. Sure it is not the best but not the worst either. It is diverse but still retains somewhat of a small town feel and has some comfortable looking houses and public transportation. Two suburbs mentioned in a previous message, Milton and Braintree, are safer but also more expensive and are much more like Amherst, NY if that is what you like. I still visit or drive through Randolph from time to time and I still feel very safe, even safer than my own Boston neighborhood of Dorchester, and I live in a good part of Dorchester.

The one Boston neighborhood mentioned so far that you probably should avoid if you do come to this area is Mattapan. I consider it very much like the Kensington/Bailey neighborhood of Buffalo with Blue Hill Avenue from Mattapan Square northward as the ultimate Bailey Avenue of Boston. I am not putting down Mattapan at all, I teach in an inner city high school with many students who live in this area and they all admit it is a tough place.

I hope this helps. Good luck if you do choose to move to the Boston area.

[ckhthankgod]

What about suburbs like Lynn, Somerville, Cambridge, Saugus, Revere and Salem?