Brighton/Brookline area vs. Somerville/Cambridge? (Harvard: lease, landlord, place to live)

[E922]

I moved to Somerville (near Union Square) last fall from Texas, and while I quite enjoy the area, as my lease winds down in 2 months, I am considering a move to the Brighton/Brookline/B.U. area mainly because my wife has just gotten a job at a hospital there.

From Somerville, her commute would be about 12 minutes by car (during off-peak hours) but almost an hour by mass transit; we both have a strong preference for mass transit.

Would rent in that area be significantly cheaper than in Somerville, or about the same? We are currently paying about $1600 for a 2 bedroom unit which we are pretty happy with, though we'd love to pay closer to $1200 if at all possible.

Would personal safety/security be as much of a non-issue there as it is in most parts of Somerville/Cambridge? I would imagine with all the BU students out and about, weekend nights can probably get a bit noisy and rowdy?

[timberline742]

Brighton will not be cheaper. You won't find a 2 bedroom of any quality for $1200 there. $1600 maybe, but not easy either, its a prime student area. Brookline will be more. $1600 for a 2 bed in Union is considered good now.

And parts of Brighton do get noisy, that seems to be more the Allston fringes though, but if you can deal fine with Somerville I wouldn't sweat it.

[bjimmy24]

I live in Brighton right by the Whole Foods and border with Brookline. Very quiet here. A 2 bedroom will probably be anywhere from $1600-2000, depending on how nice you want it.

[G-fused]

I can't imagine finding a 2 bed in Brookline for 1600 that is in any shape for humans. I know people with a very small 1 bed who pay more than 1600 (and that's with no parking) - that's in a good Coolidge Corner location though and maybe a mile or so from Longwood. The closer you get to Longwood (I presume that is where the wife will be working), the more $ it's going to be.

Best of luck.

[flowbe202]

Originally Posted by G-fused

(and that's with no parking) .

^^^ for the OP, Brookline has no on-street overnight parking. If you have a car, you need to pay $$ extra for parking.

[E922]

Thanks for all the input, everyone...looks like I'll probably be staying put. I should add that our current 2 bedroom we're paying $1600 for is just a measley 550-600 square feet. Downsizing to a 1 bedroom with 400-500 square feet, if in a much more mass-transit convenient location, would be doable for the same or slightly less rent. But the hassle of moving for such relatively minor gains is not very appealing right now.

The wife seems open to bike commuting, although the thought of her doing so during windy/icy winter conditions scares the bejesus out of me, especially on that stretch of Memorial Drive that curves onto the B.U. bridge where I've had a couple of near misses with cyclists myself!

Going a little off-topic: Do any of you bike commute year round?

[flowbe202]

They don't plow the bike paths. 'Nuff said?

I am 3/4 season biker of 3 miles or less. BU bridge intersection is always horrible but I see folks all year round crossing the river to Longwood.

Somerville is a pain. If working in one of the hospitals affiliated with big red, there are shuttles from H square to LMA. Depends if she qualifies...
M2 Cambridge-Harvard Shuttle | MASCO

[bohemka]

I wouldn't leave a $1,600 two-bedroom in Central Square. I'm surprised to hear those exist. Does your landlord have ideas on raising it? That might be a factor.

[flowbe202]

Originally Posted by bohemka

I wouldn't leave a $1,600 two-bedroom in Central Square. I'm surprised to hear those exist. Does your landlord have ideas on raising it? That might be a factor.

OP is in Union Square, Somerville.

[timberline742]

I wouldn't leave that either, personally. Union Sq is a great place to live, thought if MB closes it will be slightly less so.