moving to boston, commuting to world trade center (Cambridge, Washington: apartments, appliances)

[e-rock]

Hi, folks. First post here.

I am relocating to Boston and will be working in the World Trade Center area (Silver Line) this fall.

1. I definitely want to live in Boston proper. I really like the South End area. I'm looking to pay about $1500 for a 1 bedroom, though I can afford more. What can I get for that? Modern kitchen appliances and a space for my own washer/dryer would be really nice. Can I find affordable places with those perks? Any other parts of the city (near downtown) I should consider?

3. But I also want an efficient commute. Is a T commute from South End to WTC reasonable? I think anything more than one T transfer might be a pain. So orange, to red, to silver doesn't look all that fun. How about hopping on the commuter rail from Back Bay to South Station, then transfer to silver? Is that convenient? Reliable? Same price as regular T pass? Friends have said stick to the red line, but that means Beacon Hill and Cambridge. Cambridge just doesn't do it for me. Beacon Hill = tiny apartments. (Right now I share 1200 sq ft with a roomie. I could live with 600 on my own.) And I want to keep a car here.

Thanks in advance for your help. I'm really excited about moving.

[holden125]

I'm thinking $1500 for a 1-BR might not have the space you're looking for and would probably not be terribly modern. Some might not even be attractive. Closer to Back Bay station is often more expensive than closer to Mass. Av. or Washington St. And the car might be tough to park. If you have a spot with the apartment you'll surely be paying more than $1500.

Boston proper is not too big, so there aren't many neighborhoods. Basically the Back Bay, South End (expensive, not by red line), Beacon Hill (expensive, small places), North End (small places, not by red line), Fenway/Kenmore (a lot of students and some shabby places, not by red line), and the heart of downtown itself. You might look over near South Station in what they now call the Leather District. I assume you're not interested in the seaport area itself. There's also South Boston. The 7 bus and Silver Line go from the east side, which is pretty nice.

You could take the train from Back Bay to South Station but the schedule is more limited than normal T lines. 3 or 4 lines run through there, so you might get a train every 10-15 mins in the morning. $59 gets you a pass that includes the T, local city bus, and Zone 1A on the commuter rail, which includes Back Bay station.