Help! Single woman needing to find a safe place to live in Boston.

[brightdoglover]

Regarding the neighborhood area of "Avon Hill," that is one designation to look for. So is "Radcliffe area."
I got my apartment there by walking around the neighborhood and I asked some workmen if anything was available in a building. At one building, the guy said, "Not in this building, but they have a building over on Langdon Street with something open." I got the phone number for the management company from the front lobby (usually posted there) called, met the super, and had the place, in ten minutes.
The buildings are mostly "Harlow" buildings, built in the 1920s. Brick, brick arches. Some apartments were obviously cut up from bigger old apartments. Many have the fireplaces, sconces, hex tile, clawfoot tub, glass cabinets, if they haven't been renovated.
It's just the perfect area for the OP. Keep us posted?

[BriInNH]

Unfortunately $1000 a month does not get you much in the Boston area.

If it is a very small place you are looking for, in a nice neighborhood IN Boston, I'd go for Back Bay or North End as a late 30s woman. Stay out of Charlestown and Somerville, unless you plan to hand-pick a nicer neighborhood and know the area enough to do so. Sections of Brighton are pretty nice, then again some parts are not-so-nice. Allston I'd stay away from.

Quincy on the south shore I'd also stay away from. It's hit or miss and unless you know the area you are moving into, it's a tough call. Braintree is OK, might be worth looking into. Some parts of Milton are very nice, others I'd DEFINITILY stay away from. Mattapan lurks closeby.

On the northshore, as mentioned Wakefield is quite nice! Melrose is a good option as well. IMO, Stay out of Lynn, Chelsea, Revere unless you have experience living in the areas.

Metrowest - Generally Cambridge, Belmont, Arlington will be too expensive - but worth looking into if you can find something. Very convienent and good towns in general. I lived in Belmont and Watertown, as well as Brighton for a few years, and will vouch for those 3 being overall very good areas to live.

Hope some of this helps! Good luck!