Having a hard time finding an apt - Commuting to Lawrence from Boston area (Cambridge: apartment)

[catherine2424]

Hi all,

I need to find an apartment for Sept 1, and will be commuting to and from Lawrence. I have a dog, so my search has been challenging. I will be new to Boston, and any advice would be very helpful.

Originally I was looking in the Somerville area, since I figured that would cut down on my commute time. Because of my price range, I'd like to get a 2br+ and find a roommate. Ideally, I'd prefer to live around professionals vs. an all student area.

Now I'm expanding my search to include Brookline and Allston, etc. A few questions:
- Is this a feasible commute?
- Is it easier to find a roommate in the Brookline area vs. Medford or Somerville, away from the T?
- If I were to live in Brookline, how accessible is Somerville and downtown Boston? I have a few friends scattered around and am wondering how easy it is to get around on the T.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[BostonHouseHunter]

Lawrence is a far commute. Somerville would work best. Medford too, but Somerville will probably appeal more socially as a single. Also, you can take the T from Somerville to Cambridge, downtown and Brookline. Arlington is another area to consider. You should be able to find a 2BR in Arlington and Somerville with a dog.

Re roommates: There are professionals in Somerville and Arlington, as well as Tufts, Lesley and Harvard grad students who could share with you. Check out Boston Craigslist for apts and roommates. It's an excellent resource for the Boston rental market.

Good luck.