Cambridge/Somerville (Medford, Holland: neighborhood, bus, safety)

[TheJickler]

Hello all,

I am looking to move to either Cambridge or Somerville. I want to be within walking distance of Davis, Porter, or Central stations (Red Line). Walking distance to me is about 20-25 minutes tops.
I'm looking for a 2 bedroom for 1500 or so. I'm not very concerned with how cool/hip the neighborhood may be; I'm mainly interested in safety.
I've looked at places on Broadway but I don't like that area much at all. Anyone have any recommendations on specific areas to target?
Is the Spring Hill area ok?
Thoughts?

[goyguy]

Spring Hill would work. You can reach Davis Station within 15 minutes on foot, then there's also the 88 bus line along Highland Ave which can take you there as well as to Lechmere. The neighborhood even has "its own" route, the 85, which runs from Central and Summer St's down the hill to Union Square and on to Kendall/MIT. It's a quiet area, away from the "happening" sections yet not far from them.

For relative affordability you could also look into the area between Davis and Teele Squares, along and off Holland St, and also in the section off Powderhouse Square which straddles the Medford city boundary. Pretty much all of Cambridge leans toward expensive these days, but the less fashionable sections are between Porter Square and Alewife Brook Pkwy and the sector which lies east of Mass. Ave and south of Prospect St. (In the latter case, the closer to Prospect St the safer the neighborhood.)