Moving to ma (Boston, Somerville, Malden: apartments, rentals, crime)

[gigi4601]

Hello everyone,....I recently made a life changing decision to leave NJ and move to MA. I've been in a year long relationship with a wonderful guy that lives in MA and I feel like it's worth a risk to move closer to him. So far, from my visits I love MA and I think that my life would be great there. I am a 24 year old school teacher who is very outgoing and friendly. I've been looking for apartments around the South Shore but it seems hard. I think my budget is pretty reasonable. 1200/month max including ht/hw-- Does that sound right for a 1bd/1bth? I've searched on craigslist and can't seem to find a great one. I think that one of the reasons that it's so hard is that everyone is telling me to be very careful about every place I find. It's either it's too ghetto or the town doesn't accept black people(i'm black). HELP? Where do I look? I'm so excited about this move but I just want to find a great place where I can live comfortably and enjoy what MA has to offer?

[bluewatergirl888]

Do you know where you will be working? This will help determine where you may want to look.

[ogre]

Info on the amenities you'd like nearby (more urban or suburban, walking trails in the woods vs. a coffee shop around the corner, etc.) would also help narrow down the possibilities. You said you've been looking on the South Shore. If your location does not have to be really far to the south, I'd suggest checking Milton. Clean town that is moderately densely populated suburban, and safe in most areas, and it has a larger black population than many Boston suburbs. I gave Craigslist ads for Milton a quick skimming, and it looks as if there are rentals that would fit your budget as well.

If you can go even farther north, you might look into a couple of sections of Boston. The two areas in particular that have a racially mixed group of young professionals, are nice areas, and are at least a little toward the south, rather than being out on the west side of the city, are Jamaica Plain and the South End. You might check the Mission Hill neighborhood in the Roxbury section as well. Roxbury has a ghetto reputaion, but this varies depending on the neighborhood. Mission Hill is more of that reasonably safe young professional kind of area, though living in any neighborhood in the city depends on how well you can handle city living, including the reality that there is enough crime that it is prudent to take reasonable precautions to be aware of safety. Right in the city the rents in general will be higher than in the suburbs, so it may take some real digging for any chance of finding a place in JP, Rox., or the South End that fit your budget, but it could be worth at least looking in those areas if you don't need to be well down the South Shore to be close to your man, and your job.

[Earlydog]

Jamaica Plain is where it's at. I even know of a unit in that range that will be available in the near future.

[gigi4601]

I dont' have a job ready for me yet in MA, I will be looking when I get there. As for the town, I am looking for more of the suburban feel but where I can easily travel to an urban area for different things. I'm not exactly looking for place where there are many minorities but just a place where I would feel accepted.(not sure if I'm making it clear). Where I live now in NJ is very diverse and I love that. I will be checking out Milton.. thanks guys...keep the ideas coming.

[clevedark]

I don't know if you're from North or South Jersey, but keep in mind that the suburbs of Boston are much less dense than those of North Jersey. If you're living in a town that's 20 miles from Boston, that's like being 60 miles away thru the NJ lens.

Similarly, living in, for example, a part of Boston like Jamaica Plain is nothing like living in NYC. There are trees, parking spots, nature, fresh air, you can get out of the city in a flash.

It sounds like you're on the right track looking in Milton. Good luck!

[gigi4601]

Clevedark:

Your explanation of Boston is on the top 5 reasons why I want to move around there. I'm not a big fan of NYC so maybe I should also check out Jamaica Plain

[DreamworksSKG]

Do you prefer City or Suburb?
or a mixture?

-jeff--
Winchester, MA

Do you want to be right on the ocean, or just nearby? Or does it matter to you?

[gigi4601]

Jeff,

I prefer a mixture of City and Suburb. Nearby or on the ocean doesn't really matter to me..I'm pretty flexible

[DeafTed]

Take a look at Malden(Oak Grove area) or Somerville(Davis Square). Both are on a direct train line and have a nice ethnic mix. Davis Square, Somerville would be my pick, but it is more expensive. It has a nice mix of restaurants, is right on the train line to Boston, near Tufts University.