Locals! Tell us where to live (Boston, Cambridge: middle-class, rent, high crime)

[rethcir]

Watertown.

The express bus is convenenient and the electric trolley busses there to Harvard are frequent. And you can be to Boston, Cambridge, Somerville in about 25 minutes drive with no traffic.

Still pretty middle class, you should be able to get in for 700. Schools are fine.

You may see an influx of youthful energy from all the apartments going up on the south side.

[mwj119]

^great reccomendation. +1.

[ECPCVC]

Originally Posted by rethcir

Watertown.

The express bus is convenenient and the electric trolley busses there to Harvard are frequent. And you can be to Boston, Cambridge, Somerville in about 25 minutes drive with no traffic.

Still pretty middle class, you should be able to get in for 700. Schools are fine.

You may see an influx of youthful energy from all the apartments going up on the south side.

Good call. Awesome place for young professionals. I lived there until my kids started school. And they’re rebuilding the whole arsenal mall into some kind of giant mixed use space with a movie theatre, apts, shopping, offices that looks like it’s gonna be really nice. As far as schools go, fine is a relative term, but for $700k I want better than average to below average. I don’t think the op has kids though.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by rethcir

Still pretty middle class, you should be able to get in for 700. Schools are fine.

Goes to show how disconnected this forum is.


Watertown is OK if you don't mind commuting by bus in traffic.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Goes to show how disconnected this forum is.


Watertown is OK if you don't mind commuting by bus in traffic.

Lol yes 700k is a middle class home now. This is sad.

[porterhouse]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

Lol yes 700k is a middle class home now. This is sad.

$700k doesn't even get you that much in Watertown.

[ecraigie]

Originally Posted by Seattlefan

Does Quincy have questionable parts to it? Any areas to avoid?

Anything within walking distance of the four T stops in Quincy would be right up your ally. Examples: Wollaston, Hospital Hill, and Penn's Hill* for SFHs. Plenty of new condos closer to Quincy Center and North Quincy if that's more your speed. All perfectly safe areas.


(* pedestrian gate to the east of Quincy Adams station will be opening soon, making this neighborhood a whole lot more T accessible)

[Seattlefan]

Thank you all. I looked into Watertown and I did not see anything in our budget at all. Added Quincy to our list. Also Milton, Norwood and Deadham. I think we did not realize how dense many of these Western areas are. Our definition of dense was definitely not dense enough. I think someplace with more breathing room would be a better fit.

[gettingoutofpa]

We moved to Natick Center a year ago from California. My husband commuted downtown via the train until his job took him to Burlington. The train was a piece of cake (a half hour commute to South Station if you're willing to make the 6 AM one). Super easy. Natick Center has a range of housing options and price points, and Natick has a nice town center, great schools, and it's fairly easy to find nearby shopping and hop on the Mass Pike. We like it a lot and it's a steal compared to California!

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by ecraigie

Anything within walking distance of the four T stops in Quincy would be right up your ally. Examples: Wollaston, Hospital Hill, and Penn's Hill* for SFHs. Plenty of new condos closer to Quincy Center and North Quincy if that's more your speed. All perfectly safe areas.

I would hesitate in suggesting Quincy Center, there are still sketchy areas around there. Hospital Hill would be fine. Wollaston, N Quincy good. West Quincy is a little dicey, same with the Point (although it has much improved).