Looking For Black or Lation Neighborhoods in Boston (Cambridge, Lynn: homes, rental)

[NycBruh]

So I am contemplating a move to Boston, in all honesty, I dont mind living with people that are NOT my nationality, but I am curiouse as to where the black (african americans) and latinos (dominicans and puerto ricans) live. I am from the BRONX NYC, I live in CHARLOTTE NC right now and a job opportunity by the airport has come available. Any information would do. Really looking for a 1 bedroom and not looking to spend more then about $800 to $850 so could yall help a bruh out and steer me into the area I need to move into. Oh yeah, I need to be by the T line as well! Thanks in advance.

[nooneknowsmyname]

Originally Posted by NycBruh

So I am contemplating a move to Boston, in all honesty, I dont mind living with people that are NOT my nationality, but I am curiouse as to where the black (african americans) and latinos (dominicans and puerto ricans) live. I am from the BRONX NYC, I live in CHARLOTTE NC right now and a job opportunity by the airport has come available. Any information would do. Really looking for a 1 bedroom and not looking to spend more then about $800 to $850 so could yall help a bruh out and steer me into the area I need to move into. Oh yeah, I need to be by the T line as well! Thanks in advance.

I am an African American who lived in Boston (Roxbury) for 20 years although I currently live in the SF Bay Area. Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan are all neighborhoods that have large percentages African American, Puerto Rican and Dominican folk. Parts of Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan are near the T. Other sections of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan are not near the T (as in subway), but are on T buslines.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Have you looked in the East Boston area? It is a very diverse area near the airport.

[nooneknowsmyname]

Originally Posted by ChunkyMonkey

Have you looked in the East Boston area? It is a very diverse area near the airport.

NycBruh,

If you're looking for a substantial population of African Americans, believe me you won't find it in East Boston. I lived Boston for many years and I know of what I speak. For many years East Boston was an area of town that African American folks avoided because it was one of the neighborhoods known to be hostile to Black people. As a result even today it has very few African American people, but it does have a substantial population of Latinos. So if you are looking for a neighborhood that is mainly Latino with a small population of African Americans that would be East Boston, but if you are looking for a neighborhood with large populations of both Latinos and African Americans that would be Dorchester and Roxbury.

Below is the breakdown of the population of Latinos and African Americans by zip code and neighborhood

02128- East Boston
3.85% Black
42.60% Latino

02121-Dorchester
80.08% Black
20.92% Latino

02119 Roxbury
67% Black
27 % Latino

Let me know if you need any more information.

[Hatless Wonder]

Everett, Chelsea, and Somerville have large Latino populations.

[nooneknowsmyname]

Originally Posted by Hatless Wonder

Everett, Chelsea, and Somerville have large Latino populations.

As long as the OP is aware that Everett, Chelsea, and Somerville are separate cities, not areas in the City of Boston, which is what East Boston, Roxbury, and Dorchester are: different areas or sections of the City of Boston.

[NycBruh]

Well I am a flight attendant. In all honesty, I dont mind living with ANY race of people, I was just curiouse to know since usually you can find cheaper rent in areas that might be heavily populated with Black and Latino.

In all honesty I just want to attempt to find a one bedroom for about $800 to $850. Any other suggestions folks?????

Also, I read someone who had percentages, what source are you getting these percentages from if you dont mind me asking??? Thanks everyone for responding.

Ohhhhh, one more thing, what stop on the "T" is Roxbury, Mattapan, Dorchester, East Boston etc etc. Thanks.

[Hatless Wonder]

If you work at Logan, you cound find apartments in your price range in Eastie or Revere, both of which are right on the Blue Line.

[Dakanise]

Hi NycBruh,

I have lived in Boston for 21 years. Yes, Dorchester,Roxbury,Mattapan are predominantly black cities. Mission Hill has a mixture because of some the colleges like Northeastern University, and schools, hospitals etc that are in the area. East Boston, Jamaica Plain are predominantly more Latino than Afr.Amer. but Boston as a whole is majority whites. I live in Dorchester, in the Grove Hall area. Now where i live, yes you hear gunshots etc. So really what you should look for are the streets. If you are interested in a particular apt you should find out the address and then email me if you want.

Some sections of Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan are quiet, safe. Usually it's the areas with more single family homes and less duplex, three-family, apt blgs. Like the area i am in is dense with apt bldgs etc but my friend owns a home five mins down the street and his street is quiet etc. Also, Gallivan Blvd in Dorchester and the surrounding streets are quiet, but the Bus service not too, too, reliable because only a couple buses serve that side, which are the #21 bus and #26. But depending on where you are you can walk to Ashmont Station which is a main subway station with many other buses.

Some of the bus routes that you will find mostly black/spanish are the following: Buses # 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 28, 29, 45. The stations are: Dudley, Ruggles, Mattapan, Jackson Square, Ashmont. Dudley station is one of the bigger bus stations, meaning all of the bus routes i listed above except for the #21 go through dudley station. You can pretty much catch a bus from Dudley station to connect to anywhere else, same for ruggles, and Ashmont stations. Ruggles station is near Northeastern University and the boston police Headquarters, comm. college, reggie lewis athletic center, museum of fine arts etc. It also connects to the Orange Line subway system. Ashmont is in renovation and it connects to the Red Line subway system. Jackson Sq connects to the Orange Line.

Anyhow, as far as rents you will not really find anything in Boston for the money you are looking for. Most apartments here even in some of the worse areas are average of $1100/mth. If you want to afford a one-bedroom you may want to look at Lynn, MA where you can get a 1bed for $600. Lynn is only a 30-min ride on the Commuter Rail or about a 45-min ride on the bus. The transportation system in MA is referred to as the MBTA or as we Bostonians call it "the T" (www.mbta.com) and the fares are getting a little crazy.

Since Lynn is not a part of Boston, the bus fare is prob $2.50 or something around there because the regular bus fare in boston is $1.25 if you get a free charlie card, otherwise it's $1.50 if you pay on the bus. Check out the mbta website link i gave you to view the bus lines etc and the commuter rail fare for Lynn.

Our transit system is pretty simple/easy to figure out. Plus the MBTA has a feature on it's webiste called "Trip Planner" where you can enter your begin/end addresses and it will tell you how to get anywhere you want to go on the MBTA. I use it all the time and it is good. You can also call the MBTA line and get the same svc from a cust svc rep. So you should have no worries as far as getting around on the buses, trains, etc.

Like i said it will be next to impossible to find a rental in Boston for that amount you listed. But SEARCH ON CRAIGSLIST.COM for rooms / roomates and you will definitely find something there. caritas communities has furnishend rooms for rent and the one in Brookline (just outside of boston, but not really) is nice and you would pay about $560/mth with free laundry.

If you want to get a room i can give you many many more details, and some numbers/people to call. Well hope this helps and email me if you want more info.

[BlackMoses]

within Boston: Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, parts of South End, parts of Hyde Park have a black neighborhoods/population... and Parts of all the latter places, East Boston and Jamaica Plain have a large Latino population... you can also check parts of Roslindale too.

Outside of Boston (but still in the Boston area where trains/buses go): Chelsea, Lynn, Somerville and parts of Everett and Revere have latino neighborhoods/population (and are right near the Airport). Parts of Cambridge have black neighborhoods as well.

I suggest looking in the outskirts of Boston, because the closer you get to downtown and the "skyscraper" districts, the more you'll pay, and so everything within the "Boston" borders are relatively expensive...

@nooneknowsmyname... East Boston has changed from being an "Italian" neighborhood, with the exception of the northern area surround Orient Heights. Rather, it is majority Latino now. East Boston always changes its "face" every decade... funny, right? So yeah, it is no longer the "danger zone" for non-whites like it used to be.