Southie vs Charlestown? (Boston, Harvard, Warren: neighborhood, schools, young professionals)

[GeePee]

Originally Posted by bost627

Thank you!

What about neighborhood feel? Lots of young families in Southie, or are they mostly college kids and older folks?

We've spent quite a bit of time in Charlestown and like the feel of the neighborhoods but looking to expand out search since there haven't been too many new listings in the past month and we are outgrowing our tiny Beacon Hill rental.

I don't think Southie these days has much of a family vibe. The new gen southie residents are mostly youngish renters that work close by in the seaport. There a bunch of brand new restaurants and brunch spots etc. catering to this demographic. Investors have bought up most of the area and it doesn't scream family neighborhood.
I know several people in their late 30's who have lived there quite a while who want out. They feel misplaced. It's like the new Fanuel hall.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

Charlestown is orange line, Southie red line. Me, I'd rather be able to walk to the red line to get to Seaport and Cambridge and Somerville, if I had a choice between the two.

But most of Southie isn't really walkable to the Red Line, and the parts that are I definitely wouldn't want to live in.

[porterhouse]

Originally Posted by bost627

Looking to stay at 900k or below.

Originally Posted by bost627

...we are outgrowing our tiny Beacon Hill rental.

I'm not sure how much space you are in now vs how much you are looking for, but your budget will probably go a bit farther in southie in terms of price per square foot.

Personally I much prefer the convenience of Charlestown, with much of Boston (including your current Beacon Hill location) being easily walkable.

[BosYuppie]

I don’t think I’d choose either of those neighborhoods over Cambridge or Somerville.

[BostonBornMassMade]

There's no 'kids' in southie or Charlestown. Babies and toddlers, yes but actual kids and teens? no. Boston has purposefully gentrified families out. Especially in those neighborhoods.

I lived in Boston for 23 years and never once did I meet a kid from CTown. Ever.

Met 1 maybe 2 from Southie, and that's being generous.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

There's no 'kids' in southie or Charlestown. Babies and toddlers, yes but actual kids and teens? no. Boston has purposefully gentrified families out. Especially in those neighborhoods.

I lived in Boston for 23 years and never once did I meet a kid from CTown. Ever.

Met 1 maybe 2 from Southie, and that's being generous.

Yep, seeing families is rare, families with more than one kid even rarer, even in places that aren't Charlestown or Southie. It makes sense, everything is working against people who want families. This is probably why I'll have to leave. But then again, I don't have a million dollars to throw around at a home in Charlestown, so ymmv.

[mwj119]

Charlestown is a prettier area. More and more first time buyers have moved into the neighborhood. Love that you can walk to North Station/the North End.. But, you'll be forced to more than you want, because there's not a lot in Charlestown. A few new restaraunts, a few public spaces.

Southie, though not as desirable in look or feel, has far more going on. It does cater to the younger, single crowd. But, there are a lot, lot, lot of couples and first time home buyers. It has the beach, access to Seaport, bars, restaurants, some nice public space.

As Seaport expands south/southwest, it's only a few blocks away from becoming completely connected with Southie. Huge upside in buying in Southie from an investment perspective. Also, the red line is a huge advantage. There is certainly upside in Charlestown, most notably due to the expansion of Assembly. But, Southie's upside wins handily IMO.

Personally, I'd buy in the South End. Find a nice 2 bedroom in a tri-level brownstone near Tremont, and call it a day.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

Charlestown is orange line, Southie red line. Me, I'd rather be able to walk to the red line to get to Seaport and Cambridge and Somerville, if I had a choice between the two.

Eh, Charlestown literally borders Cambridge and Somerville (and downtown Boston). So you can walk to parts of either. Lechmere is only a 10 minute walk past Community College (and Kendall isn't much further) and in 2 years, the Green line will be running from Lechmere into Union and up through Somerville and Medford. There's plenty of bus service into Somerville, Cambridge and beyond from Sullivan. So I'd almost call it a wash in terms of Cambridge/Somerville access. In fact, I'd favor Charlestown a bit on that front. In fact, I'd say having the Green and Orange right there (and the red not far at all) makes Charlestown the more accessible spot. But I agree that the OP would be fine in either place.

[BosYuppie]

I guess one advantage of Charlestown is easy Uber access to both Camberville and the city.

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

There's no 'kids' in southie or Charlestown. Babies and toddlers, yes but actual kids and teens? no. Boston has purposefully gentrified families out. Especially in those neighborhoods.

I lived in Boston for 23 years and never once did I meet a kid from CTown. Ever.

Met 1 maybe 2 from Southie, and that's being generous.

They do have the Harvard-Kent and Warren-Prescott schools in Charlestown and the Eliot School in the North End. Both neighborhoods do seem heavy on young professionals without kids but someone must be going to those schools. At least two in South Boston too. The years of big Catholic families and lots of kids are definitely over in Charlestown and Southie but I don’t see why the childless young adult thing would go on forever either.