Moving Out of the South End. Looking for Suggestions (Boston: crime, home)

[bostongymjunkie]

The area is loaded with projects and other subsidized housing which doesn't help keep the crime rate low.

[sawyer2]

Originally Posted by diegomar2007

I forgot to mention that I live in the Shawmut/West Newton section of the South End, near Blackstone Square. As I said previously, it is a costly section despite the crime. I have been lucky that my landlord has not raised the rent during my tenancy. BPD is doing an extraordinary job keeping the area the safest possible, and I have to say that Blackstone Square has improved since I moved in, but it’s like two steps forward and one step backward. There are still frequent gunshots, and I am tired. I’ll check Brookline, Coolidge Corner, Fenway, and the suburbs.

Right side of Mass Ave, but being next to the Cathedral projects or whatever it is called now (Barkley housing?) is not good and will probably never improve, and Villa Vitoria to a lesser extent on the other side.

I would either move north in the S End, with increased rent, or to one of the other areas you listed.

[id77]

Originally Posted by sawyer2

Right side of Mass Ave, but being next to the Cathedral projects or whatever it is called now (Barkley housing?) is not good and will probably never improve, and Villa Vitoria to a lesser extent on the other side.

I would either move north in the S End, with increased rent, or to one of the other areas you listed.

Yep. Even if you get to the other side of Tremont you'll see a big difference. The closer you get to the Golden Triangle, the better it gets, but also the more expensive it gets.

[G-fused]

Originally Posted by Ne999

If you’ve lived in south end since 2012 I’m thinking you may know as good as anyone..how about brookline around Coolidge corner, beacon hill, back bay, Cambridge or Charlestown ??

Yep, I agree.

If looking to be around the city, I would narrow that list down to Coolidge Corner and Cambridge. I'd remove Charlestown all together. Beacon Hill...maybe but much stuffier than the South End. Cambridge has a more city feel (I mean it is a city after all) than Coolidge Corner, which is more like a hip, busy, and very developed suburb.

South End since 2012...I am surprised OP is not familiar with this.

[Boston Shudra]

I think Charlestown is a good suggestion!

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Boston Shudra

I think Charlestown is a good suggestion!

I don't see any similarities whatsoever.

[BosYuppie]

Why has nobody suggested Davis Square yet? Great food and drink, easy ride back to Boston, quick and cheap Uber rides to other squares, and less and less riff raff every year. Union Square and other parts of Camberville also good.

I really think Charlestown is overrated. Not really that many amenities there compared to Camberville.

[porterhouse]

I’d move to the Back Bay. Crossing Huntington and Boylston makes a huge difference in terms of the things the OP is talking about. Even when I lived in the nicer parts of the South End (Pembroke and St. Botolph), my apartment was broken into at each location. The South End has definitely regressed during the pandemic in terms of vagrants, needles and public defecation.

Cambridge is a strong option as well. It offers public transportation, parks, restaurants, stores, etc, but the people and feel are different on the other side of the river.

[Boston Shudra]

Originally Posted by massnative71

I don't see any similarities whatsoever.

Nice, historic, housing stock with easy access to downtown and more affordable than Beacon Hill / Back Bay. It doesn’t have the restaurant scene of the south end, I’ll admit, but I believe crime and homelessness are less prevalent.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Boston Shudra

Nice, historic, housing stock with easy access to downtown and more affordable than Beacon Hill / Back Bay. It doesn’t have the restaurant scene of the south end, I’ll admit, but I believe crime and homelessness are less prevalent.

And that's where it stops. Besides the lack of restaurants and other amenities you mention, it lacks the diversity and atmosphere that make up the South End. Charlestown is pretty much an enclave of white yuppie DINKS and single professionals. Sure South End has that too, but it's that in combination with "everything else" that makes the neighborhood what it is. Charlestown (save for the projects) is basically a bedroom community that happens to have dense historic housing.


When responding to questions here I generally try to be as objective and straight to the point as possible. OP pretty much asked about where he could have the South End but without the crime and "junkie" issues. That pretty much leaves the Back Bay, Fenway, and parts of Brookline. Charlestown, no. South Boston, no. Davis Square, no. Cambridge...MAAYBE Central Square but still quite different in housing makeup and like someone else said it's a completely different crowd and vibe once you cross the river. And then again, junkies galore...