Grad Student w/ Dogs (Boston, Cambridge: rental, how much, house)

[aah47]

Hi! I am a grad student in CA applying to BU for a PhD. I have 2 dogs, one large one medium. I'd like to live alone if at all possible. A) How much would this cost me - a small house or duplex with access to a yard? and B) Which neighborhoods are safest with a reasonable (under 20 minutes) commuting distance? Thanks in advance to everyone!

[RemiJP]

I recommend Brookline, Newton, Jamaica Plain, for pet-friendly landlords and lots of parks. JP would give you the longest commute time, but my boyfriend has done it for the majority of his Ph.D. It takes him about 30 minutes by the Orange Line and then a transfer to a BU shuttle bus. Many of his friends from BU also lived in JP.

Rent in these areas varies and it's unlikely you'd be able to afford a single family home on a grad student budget. A studio is a possibility in these three areas - expect to pay at least $900 a month. To share a 2/3 bedroom with other grad students, you should be able to find a room for 500-800/month.

[smarty]

20 minutes.... by ???

If you take public transportation, 20 minutes means less than 3-4 miles from BU.. ie Boston(allston, Brighton, BackBay,Fenway, ...), Brookline, boardering to Newton like Chestnut hill. Green line (subway - see mbta.com) runs slow.... with lots of stops... I don't think you can do it with towns like Cambridge. Boston is more of a walking city...

If you have a car, that would be different. You will have more options. However, parking may be a problem... it will cost you $$$$

If you live alone, be prepare to spend $1100 + utilities. Check Craiglist for rental price.