Houston to Boston Move (Cambridge, Somerville: apartment, rent, transfer)

[Texas27]

Hi all,

I am a 33 year old single professional male moving from Houston to Boston. As part of a inter-company transfer, I am being transferred to Boston, but I quickly realized 120K in Houston is quite different from what it is in Boston.

I obviously want to be in a area that has a good singles scene that is also in my budget. Also, I have couple of Masters degrees in Engineering and want to be in a area that is mostly populated by educated professionals if possible.

So what are my best bets?

Thanks,

Axel

[Dm84]

You can afford to live pretty much wherever you want on $120k as a single person. Do you have any neighborhoods in mind?

[bjimmy24]

120 is still a ton of money. You make 3x the average person. Live wherever you want.

[timberline742]

Pretty much anywhere. JP, Back Bay, Davis Sq, prob also Seaport, anywhere you want.

[Texas27]

Originally Posted by Dm84

You can afford to live pretty much wherever you want on $120k as a single person. Do you have any neighborhoods in mind?

I just looked up Black Bay but rents for a single bedroom are 2500 and up. It seems very steep compared to Houston where I rent a high end 950 sq ft apartment 1400 dollars in the middle of the town.

I do not know which is a good area for singles of my age in the town. Are there any areas popular for single professionals?

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by Texas27

I just looked up Black Bay but rents for a single bedroom are 2500 and up. It seems very steep compared to Houston where I rent a high end 950 sq ft apartment 1400 dollars in the middle of the town.

I do not know which is a good area for singles of my age in the town. Are there any areas popular for single professionals?

Basically anywhere in the city.

[timberline742]

The whole city is filled with single professionals. Most of Cambridge and Somerville, North End/Seaport/Back Bay/JP, Brighton etc


You're not getting a nice $1400 place though, so forget about that, but you earn a lot, so you can afford it.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by timberline742

The whole city is filled with single professionals. Most of Cambridge and Somerville, North End/Seaport/Back Bay/JP, Brighton etc


You're not getting a nice $1400 place though, so forget about that, but you earn a lot, so you can afford it.

Another way to look at it: those high rents have priced out almost everyone who isn't a professional. Married people have, for the most part, moved out to the suburbs. I'd start near where you'll be working.

[Texas27]

Originally Posted by timberline742

The whole city is filled with single professionals. Most of Cambridge and Somerville, North End/Seaport/Back Bay/JP, Brighton etc


You're not getting a nice $1400 place though, so forget about that, but you earn a lot, so you can afford it.

Thanks, I do understand that 1400 won't cut it in Boston. Whats a reasonable price for a single bedroom apartment in the areas you have mentioned?

-
Axel

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Texas27

Thanks, I do understand that 1400 won't cut it in Boston. Whats a reasonable price for a single bedroom apartment in the areas you have mentioned?

-
Axel

Highly variable, $1700-3000, depending on how fancy you want to get.

Originally Posted by jayrandom

Another way to look at it: those high rents have priced out almost everyone who isn't a professional. Married people have, for the most part, moved out to the suburbs. I'd start near where you'll be working.

No shortage of married couples in the city. I know far more in the city than in suburbs, unless they decided to have some kids and they become school age. They double their renting power which helps drive up rates.