Any thoughts on Medford? (Boston, Cambridge: middle-class, for rent, crime)

[felix12584]

My friend is moving to Medford from Austin TX this month. She already has a job lined up making 40k. Is that enough to live in Medford? Hows the school district? Is the area safe? Any input would be appreciated.

[GreenMachine]

Originally Posted by felix12584

My friend is moving to Medford from Austin TX this month. She already has a job lined up making 40k. Is that enough to live in Medford? Hows the school district? Is the area safe? Any input would be appreciated.

Hi Felix,

Whenever I see posters asking is xxx dollars enough to live in xxx city, I suggest to them that they write out a budget. Nobody can really tell you what you can afford or what you have left over after car payments, etc. Only you know how much of your monthly incomes is left over for rent, groceries, and meals and entertainment. You can go to craiglist and get an idea of what rents are in the area.

Greenie

[brightdoglover]

Medford is a rather civilized urban suburb. It's on public transport, train and bus, to anywhere you'd want. There are more suburban parts and more urban parts. Schools are OK to good, I think. A lot of my co-workers live there. Seems pretty safe.

[beantowncityofchampions61]

I live in medford lived here my whole life. Medford is mostly urban city it's very diverse and theres alot of illegal immigrants (mainly from Brazil) the schools are NOT good or safe theres gangs in the public schools. Medford can be safe or unsafe depends on what part you are in at what time of the day theres some gangs and ALOT of drug crimes.

[goldenmom7500]

Hi,

I lived there when I was a graduate student. I have a hard time remembering the non-university parts, but it seemed very middle class but nice.

I just checked GreatSchools.net and on a scale of 1 to 10, the Medford public schools rate from 4 to 6 ... this is based entirely on standardized tests and this range is OK. It seems like once you hit 6 you are on safe ground. It is also interesting that the scores are so consistent - no 1s, no 9s, just 4s, 5s, and 6s (where I live now we have 1s, we have 10s, we have 5s, etc.).

[beantowncityofchampions61]

Again I live in Medford this city has been going downhill. Theres been like 5-6 murders this past year stabbings and shootings and most of it dosn't even get any media atention I laughed when i looked at the 2006 medford crime stats and saw 1 murder i remember atleast 5 murders from 2006 off the top of my head but there is 1 good section of the city the LE section (lawrence estetes) that area is mainly upper-middle North Medford and West Meff are OK i know a few gangs in West Meff and there used to be a big gang up in the heights at car park in North Medford up overall those sections are OK. BUT STAY AWAY from South Medford and the Wellington areas there are gangs, lots of drug dealers, and illegal immigrants in those 2 areas. I went to Medford high and its not that good of a school unless your in honnors classes. if you dont roll with the wrong crowd youll be fine at medford public schools just dont join a gang cuz if you do then thats when you'll find yourself in trouble.

Add to this I love Medford wouldn't live anywhere else you'll probally love it its 3 miles from downtown boston i can get to Boston in under 5 minutes from Medford

[johnny99]

beantowncityofchampions61 must be some kind of wannabe gangster idiot kid. omg drugs and gangs everywhere in Medford? lmao You kidding me? It is one of the safest and nicest towns I have ever lived in and the schools are great. Don't take stock in anything this kid says...he needs to get a life and get away from Halo and WOW for a few days. Drive through Medford and see how for yourself, its no longer a secret how nice and family friendly this town is.

[redpanda]

Ahhh....yeah. Please disregard anything that the seeming wannabe punk beantownxyzblahblahblah says. How utterly ridiculous.

I live in Medford. My husband and I are young, educated, recovered-hipster professionals. The schools here are fine--no, they're not Winchester or Lexington, but I would have no problem sending my son to public school here. I have never, EVER felt unsafe in any part of Medford, at any time of day or night. It is a middle-class suburb with a distinct "townie" flavor in some parts, but that is part of what keeps it down-to-earth. There are also a ton of yuppies driving BMW's here, a Whole Foods, and plenty of decent restaurants.

Best of all--EVERYTHING is close by. Downtown is a 10 minute drive. So is Cambridge, Burlington, Arlington, etc.

How far 40k will go depends on the individual budget, I think. But I paid my share of the rent living in Medford when I was a starving grad student making far less than that, so I think she'll be Ok.