Is east boston safe? (Revere: apartments, rentals, crime)

[onken1234]

My husband and I along with our baby are moving from Los Angeles to Boston this summer. I am looking for an affordable and safe place to live with a good commute into the Back Bay.
You seem to be able to get a lot for your money in East Boston and I was wondering if it is a safe and nice enough area. We don't have to really worry about schools because we will only be there for about 4 years.

[Jscohen]

East Boston is generally OK. Avoid Eagle Hill and look for apartments in Orient Heights or Jeffries Point. A good place to start is the Universal Hub crime map - it shows all the hotspots for crime. There have been problems with gang activity, but generally it is OK.

Another option would be the beachmont section of Revere. It also has a t stop accessible to the Back Bay.

[Urban Peasant]

I second the last reply. Jeffries Point is highly gentrified and you should be safe there. Orient Heights is safe for the most part but you will have to deal with noise from airplanes descending because Logan Airport's main runway faces it. Stay away from the housing projects though. I would not bother with Eagle Hill or Central Square in East Boston. There is crime activity around those areas, especially at night, and if you take one look at the houses there, you can tell they are trashy places.

[j.johnson]

The only BAD area of Eastie is Maverick, which is a big set of housing projects. Orient Heights, Jeffries Point, are both very safe for the most part. Eastie is like any other neighborhood...it has its good and bad parts. eastie is relatively affordable, so good luck!

[rranger]

If you are working in Back Bay, have you thought about Parker Hill or the Fort Hill/Highland Park section of Roxbury?

Both are quite nice, affordable, and a much more convenient to the Back Bay than East Boston.

[Crane's Rooster]

You also look into Jamaica Plain. It's an easier commute to Back Bay with more options. East Boston is not a bad commute either but if you ever need to drive or take anything other than the T to work, neighborhoods like JP would be much easier driving or by bus.

[rranger]

Originally Posted by Crane's Rooster

You also look into Jamaica Plain. It's an easier commute to Back Bay with more options. East Boston is not a bad commute either but if you ever need to drive or take anything other than the T to work, neighborhoods like JP would be much easier driving or by bus.

Yes, and you and I could look at JP too!

But, unfortunately, it's horrifically expensive for what you get. I think the point of the post was to find a reasonably priced place that has good access to public transit.

[Crane's Rooster]

It's been a while since I've lived in JP but I recall there being some reasonable rentals around Stoneybrook, Green St. and Forrest Hills stations. Of course it's been a while and I remember the gentrification starting back than so it's likely to have gotten more expensive.

[rranger]

The area around Stoneybrook and Green Street is beautiful and pricey. Forest Hills is an option, and it's significantly less expensive. In any case, any of the neighborhoods you and I have mentioned is worth a look.