For Those of You From Massachusetts...

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by XAntoftheSkyX

I'd also suggest Allston/Brighton. Possibly something close too like Saugus or Peabody? All the places I know around the city are the seedy ones.

LOL. Not saying a word.

[aephi alum]

If she wants to live in Boston/Cambridge, she will be paying through the nose for rent. My husband and I spent a couple of years in heavily-subsidized "student family housing" and we still paid around $1k/month for a tiny one-bedroom apartment (albeit one with an awesome view of the Charles River). The same apartments now go for nearly $1500/month. Getting a place in Boston/Cambridge with parking may be difficult - there's a reason Zipcar was founded there.

Allston/Brighton is a good option. It's near the T if you want to get into Boston/Cambridge and hit a restaurant, or a bar or two, and not worry about a designated driver. (Be warned that Cambridge cops are Nazis - you do not want to be pulled over on a DUI, or even get a parking ticket, there.) Plus, on-street parking can be very hard to find.

I have friends in Braintree. It's T-able if you want to get into the city, but it's the dead tail end of the Red Line.

I have friends in West Roxbury. It's commuter-rail-able but the schools suck. (They send their daughter to private school.)

Just my $0.02 based on knowledge from someone who moved out of MA 12 years ago.

[XAntoftheSkyX]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

LOL. Not saying a word.

Cause my friends are from the seedy towns. I live on a beach.

[emily2228]

Hello! I am from MA and currently work in Framingham. I would not recommend Framingham or Marlborough for a young person... at all.

Waltham, which is along the Masspike, and 128 (or 95 whatever you what to call it) has a lot of young people, and is affordable. You could definitely find something under $1000. Easy commute to Boston and some what easy (just long) commute to Worcester.

Watertown, which is next to Waltham is also great for young people and is affordable.

Newton and Belmont are nice areas to live as well.

Personally, I do not like Allston...at all. There's no parking ever, it's crowded and full of college kids. Brighton is nice and has more of a neighborhood feel to it. However, I don't think you are going to find anything decent under 1000 in Allston/ Brighton (unless you have a roommate).

I personally love South Boston "southie", which is another place worth looking into. The rents may be higher, and there's the problem with parking there too. Southie has a lot of young people in the neighborhood, and has less college students then Allston and Brighton.

Hope this helps!

[alum]

Most of the western suburbs are quite nice: Newton, Brookline, Wellesley, Sudbury, Weston... Brookline and Newton are a bit more urban and are both on the Green Line and on bus routes as well. Lots of BC students and young adults live on the Brookline/Newton line in the Chestnut Hill area. The turnpike goes through Newton and there are 2 turnpike exits for it as well (one on the 128 interchange and one on the eastern side of the city (Newton Corner).

Belmont, Concord, Carlisle, Lexington, Lincoln are also quite nice but they are more WNW than true west.

Insuring your car in a Boston suburb is MUCH less expensive than in Boston proper.