moving to Cambridge, MA...need help!
 

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone can help me out. I am moving to Cambridge for a new job. I don't know Boston at all and apparently I am finding out that looking for apartments is rather difficult. I am looking in a range for 1300-1400 to pay for rent. Can any one recommend a good area I can look in? I am focusing on Cambridge, Brighten, Back bay, Fenway and south boston. Of course, looking for places on line, many of them seem wonderful, but I don't know if I should trust the neighboorhoods they provide. Is it better to find places by owner, or through a realtor? I have 2 weeks and don't even know where to begin. Any help will be useful and so appreciated:)

Thank you,

Elina

Hi Elina,

I think craigslist is your best option for finding apartments.

As for neighborhoods, Central Square, Harvard Square, Porter Square, Davis Square (Somerville)and Cambridgeport are good areas to look into in Cambridge. Which area will you be working in?

Southie (South Boston) is a good area for singles, and you can probably find a decent 1 bedroom for that price. If you're working in Cambridge, I'd stick to the West side, as close to the Broadway T stop as possible.

Brighton will have plenty in your price range and you can probably hop on a bus and be in Cambridge rather quickly, but it's a big student area. If you're in your early to mid 20s it might be good.

Back Bay is one of the nicest areas of Boston. If you can find something here in your price range, it's a great place to live. You'll be right in the center of shopping, restaurants, etc. However, it's also one of the most expensive neighborhood in Boston and you probably won't find anything in your price range.

I really like Fenway/Kenmore Sq. There's a ton of new restaurants and shops that have opened recently and it's a convenient area to get to a lot of other places, and there's Fenway Park. If you're using public transport, it will take you a little longer to get to Cambridge from here. If you're driving, it will be pretty close. Your price range will be a little tight in this area, but a 1 bedroom is probably doable.

my zip code is 01241, cambridge. I heard that apts go really quickly there, as if it is listed this week it's gone the next! Is that true? Thanks for your help:))

Looking for an apartment long distance is always a problem - and Cambridge/Boston area is no different and presents some unique difficulties. Some areas are so loaded with students that a working adult would find them awful, for example. Also, depending on where you are working in Cambridge transportation from apartment to job will be important to research - bus, subway lines - or even driving - even a mile or so different residential location can make a huge difference in commuting time.

Much of the housing in these areas is in multi-family homes, small apartment buildings - rather than larger apartment buildings of other cities. In that, the actual building itself can make a big difference.

I think you are looking, in general, in the right areas. Brighton/Allston tends to be over-run with BU students. I do not think you can afford Back Bay - unless someone is listing an apartment that is on the edges of official Back Bay and calling it that.

Wherever you rent, if you will have a car, find out specifics for parking that car. There is street parking for residents in all these places, but sometimes it is so scarce as to be truly annoying. And then there is issue of where the car goes when it snows - make sure you understand where/whether you have to move the car for the 6 months it could snow.

Is there anyway at all you could take a short trip to Boston area prior to your actual move for the sole purpose of finding an apartment. Depending on level of job, employer might be able to help with finances of this, or even suggest a cheap place you could stay while apartment hunting. Two weeks is really a rather short time - and some landlords would not even have an apartment available on such short notice.

I think your best bet is to stick in Cambridge or possibly Somerville.

You're getting good advice by and large above. The city-data.com website is actually a great place to ask questions like this.

Cambridge (good subway and bus service) tends to be pretty expensive. It's generally good; the few areas which are dicey in the city are:

-the area in North Cambridge down Rindge Avenue towards the Alewife subway stop.
-various areas around Central Square, especially immediately north and northeast of the square.
-the stretch of East Cambridge heading out of Inman Square going towards the Cambridgeside Galleria Mall.

The area in Somerville in the vicinity of Davis Square (on the border with North Cambridge) is also very pleasant, though again not the cheapest. It's also the part of the city best served by public transportation. One can also say that about East Somerville, but that area of town is not at all a good one. The rest of Somerville falls somewhere in between, with so-so public transportation, though if the proposed Green Line extension indeed gets built, things will improve.

If you're venturing into Boston proper, Beacon Hill is great as is the North End and much of Back Bay. The subway serves it all well (all these areas tend to be costly). The South End is generally fine (also pricey) but has pockets that are not as good. Allston and Brighton are more college student and working class type areas, cheaper usually but can be noisy from the students, with public transport okay to so-so. West Roxbury is fine but kind of isolated and not that well served by public transport. Would definitely recommend avoiding Roxbury, Mattapan, East Boston, much of Hyde Park (just because the mayor lives there doesn't make it all that great), parts of Jamaica Plain (especially the Jackson Square area and the parts bordering Roxbury), and (except for Savin Hill and the Lower Mills area) Dorchester. Much of Charlestown and South Boston are fine, but avoid the areas around the housing projects -- and note well that public transportation can be less than ideal.

Unless you have off-street parking (which also often costs a bit), owning a car in Boston, Cambridge, or Somerville tends to be a liability. But with public transportation by and large very good, you don't really need one, either.

I'm sure the really good apartments go quickly, yes. But this is actually a good time to be looking, as opposed to Sept 1st when tens of thousands of college students are searching. I'm sure you'll find something.

If you find listings that look good, post the general location and I'd be happy to let you know my thoughts. Cambridge zip codes don't mean anything to me, so I'm still not quite sure where it is you'll be working.

Well, the zip code where he will be working is East Cambridge, broadly considered, which could include all those software/science places between Kendall and Cambridgeside Galleria or it could be in one of those building with lots of startups on First St etc.

But he (is it a he?) needs either to be on the Red Line to get to Kendall or the Green Line to go to Lechmere or Science Park for easy commuting, assuming those techie towers that overlook the Zakim bridge are more than his/her budget.

There are also buses from Davis Square to Lechmere.

So, all in all, if I were a young person, I would start looking in Davis Square. OP, you should expect that most people do not live in the kinds of apartment buildings that you might find in other cities but in 3 story woodframe houses that were constructed as flats (3 deckers) or converted from single family houses. These are very dense areas. Parking is at a premium and requires a permit. But there is a lot going on in this area, and it is a reasonable commute to East Cambridge.

Brighton and especially Allston have traditional brick apartment buildings but are heavily tenanted by students, many of whom are more interested in partying than studying. There might be places on the fringes of Brookline in your price range, but there is no legal onstreet overnight parking, and they tow, so expect to pay $125 per month, and the Green Line trolley on either Commonwealth or Beacon Street can be frustrating.

I personally find Jamaica Plain to be the end of the earth if you have to take public transportation (yes, yes, Friends of JP, I know you are loyal to your neighborhood). The Fenway area is an increasingly attractive area as is pointed out above with lots of new highrises and lots of new restaurants and shopping and movies. Roxbury and Mattapan are primarily African American and Afro Caribbean neighborhoods that are economically mixed, with many poor people and a growing number of middle class residents. Hyde Park is as far out as you can go and still be in Boston. You would have to commute to South Station by train, then make your way across to Cambridge on the Red Line.

It is a long walk from many parts of Southie to the T, though the buses are pretty good. West Roxbury and Roslindale are also way out.

So start near Davis Square and work your way elsewhere. Try to come for a visit, and buy a copy of "Car Free in Boston", a guide to getting places without using a car. The updated edition is out of date in some respects, but the bus routes and their destinations have pretty much remained the same.

Writing from the "end of the earth"! (i.e. Jamaica Plain), you could easily commute to East Cambridge by a combination of Green Line and/or Orange Line but you'd have to change at least once. I have friends who commute easily to the Harvard Square area from JP and that would work if you're near Kendall Square. Jamaica Plain may be the greenest part of Boston having Jamaica Pond and the Arnold Arboretum at your doorstep. It also has a wide variety of good restaurants with easy access to downtown. But it all depends upon what you're looking for.

The Fenway area has lots of new building going on and a couple of new apartment buildings but is not much more convenient to East Cambridge, though is becoming a more convenient area to live with new restaurants, etc.

Can you ask the HR office at your new workplace for ideas of convenient locations? Without knowing where exactly you will be working, it's hard to advise on convenient locations. Check your work address to potential apartment addresses on www.mbta.com route planner. And ask us if you have an address--we'll tell you about the area.

Otherwise, if you can't come to Boston in advance of moving, I would recommend getting a short-term rental and look around for something more permanent when you get here.

Wow, thank you all so much for this amazing info. I definitely have a clearer outlook now. I will be working in the Galleria Mall in Cambridge. I am actually thinking about Fenway because I prefer a newer building rather than a small 3 story type. What does it mean "multi-family" owned anyway? I will start looking more into the areas of Davis Square areas, and somervill because I prefer using public transportation. I will have a car, but driving in the winter (I am from Miami) scares me a bit:) Also, for one bedroom, how expansive is back bey really? And aside from Fenway, what areas have new buildings with garages?

Again, thank you so much for you advice:)

My sis-in-law (single) lives in E Cambridge. She has been living there for over a decade now, and E Cambridge has gentrified a lot over the last 10-15 years. The area is safe and she walks alone at night all the time. Of course, you need to be vigilant and avoid quiet streets.

In any case, I think you *may* be able to find something in E Cambridge that fits your budget. Honestly, if you can walk to work, it beats commuting every day, esp if you're thinking of coommuting via the Green Line. Green Line is PITA most of the year, and much worse in the winter because parts of it is not underground and subject to snow conditions.

Parts of E Cambridge isn't as convenient to the subway; eg where my sis-in-law lives, it's a 10-min walk to Kendall, 20-min walk to Lechmere, 10-min walk to Central. The area is relatively cheaper because it's not right next to a subway station.

In Cambridge, you can get a resident parking permit and park on the streets (if you're going to have a car). But honestly, if you're going to be living in the city, I recommend getting rid of your car and just use zipcar as needed (which is what my sis-in-law does).

Apart from E Cambridge, I'd also consider Somerville.

Most of the houses in Boston area are triple-deckers, aka multi-family homes. Generally speaking, they are 3-storey homes that are cut into 4-6 apts.

You didn't say where you're moving from. If you're not familiar with the Boston area, here's some advice:

1) Invest in good quality winter clothes/shoes - you'll be walking a lot
2) Don't bother with a car: it's a liability and is expensive to keep in the city
3) Be ready for sticker shock

Good luck.

Your budget is probably too low for finding a one-bedroom apartment in a new building in Boston. Also garage parking, available at most new buildings, will probably not be included in the rent.

Multi-family just means a house that is divided up into two or more apartments. A "three-decker" is a house where each of the three floors is its own separate apartment.

It's awfully hard to advise you when you haven't been in the area though if you see something that sounds good, you can "walk" through the neighborhood by looking at Google maps.

There are a few large apartment buildings in E Cambridge, but they'll be out of your price range. Likewise in the Fenway, there are 2 great newish buildings (1330 Boylston and the Trilogy) but 1 bedrms start at $2500ish/mo.

I personally wouldn't be all that interested in living in E Cambridge if I couldn't be in one of the newer large apt buildings. You'll be on the Green line, but the Kendall Sq stop of the red line is only about a 15 min walk to the Galleria, so look for apts with easy access to either the Green or Red lines.

I worked for several years next to the Galleria. The closest public transportation is Lechmere station, which is served by several bus routes and the Green Line. The area is also about a 10-15 minute walk from either North Station (commuter rail and Orange Line) or Kendall (Red Line). That walk can be really, really grim on cold/windy/icy days.

You big trade-off will be location vs price. Back Bay is in the center of everything and has excellent access to the Galleria (via Green Line), but it's frighteningly expensive. A Cambridge location with good access to Lechmere via bus -- for example, the Inman Square area -- would be a reasonable choice. Somerville is a good value -- you'll typically get more for your money there than in Cambridge. Some of the 2- and 3-decker houses in Somerville do have driveways, and the residents share the space. Another interesting choice might be Charlestown, which is just over the bridge from E. Cambridge, and which may well have good values in rentals.

This is not specific to Boston, but about long distance moves. I would spring for temporary housing for 1 month, so you can do your apartment hunting in person after you arrive.

Listen to Suze if you possibly can. You have a lot of really great information here, but there is no way to assess it until you are actually on the ground here.

Yea I'm actually realizing that's the case. I started looking for temporary or sublease so I can focus over there.
- Rizzuto How is Fenway transportation? That area seems more and more attractive to me. All of you are helping me out tremendously. I really appreciate it!!

Honestly, I'd avoid Fenway area like a plague, unless you love baseball and the Red Sox.

For 6 months out of the year, the Fenway area is congested with traffic jams whenever there's a home game; in addition, plenty of rowdy/drunk fans when the games end.

In addition, depending on which Fenway area you're looking at, you may be listening to ambulance sirens all day all night because of the proximity to the Longwood medical center area.

If it were me, I'd stick with the E Cambridge neighborhood.

While I sort of agree with yk about the Fenway area, I also sort of don't agree.

I lived for about a year on the Fenway, at the corner of The Fenway and Westland Ave (60 The Fenway). It's true that the street and sidewalk traffic is a major concern for the 81 nights/year when the Sox are at home, but I found that I got accustomed to the traffic (and to the sirens) very quickly. I loved being within a 10- or 15-minute walk of 2 great museums, Symphony Hall, and the Prudential Center. All that said, the appeal of the Fenway area can vary enormously block-by-block: some can be wonderful, others can be overrun by multiple undesirable elements.

As for transportation, that's also very variable. It's actually surprisingly easy to get to/from the Fenway by car, <b>except</b> for those 81 nights. Public transportation is ok, but not great: the Green Line stops at Kenmore Sq and on Huntington Ave, which are within 5-15 mins walk from most places in the Fenway area. However, the Green Line can be slow, and it's a particular pain for those 81 Red Sox games.

I think it really depends on what type of person the OP is. If he/she is a young professional, likes to eat out and enjoy nightlife, and don't mind living in the middle of hustle/bustle, then Fenway would be a great area, due to the reasons given by rizzuto. You'll find lots of young people (in their early-mid 20s) living in that area; many of them are students in the various schools in that area (Berklee School of Music, Simmons College, Emmanuel College, WIT, Northeaster ...)

In the E Cambridge neighborhood where my sis-in-law lives, there are many more couples with young children or DINK couples. Generally speaking, it's more of a residential neighborhood and more quiet.

agree %100 If you can afford to do short term housing for a month or two, then it will pay for itself in loving wherever you land.

I actually disagree about the Fenway, I live nearby and think it's a great place to live. There are 81 home games per year, so the area is obviously super lively during those times, but there's lots of times when it's really quiet. Ambulances go by my house constantly, but they're like white noise to me, they don't bother me at all. And there are so many great restaurants and shops opening up in the area.

If you take the Green line to Lechmere, you're looking at about 35 minutes door to door. I used to work right across from the Galleria so I'm very familiar with the commute.

I agree with Rizzuto and Wyatt. I worked in the Fenway for many years and the area has improved every year. It is divided into two parts--East and West Fenway--and is divided by the park called the Back Bay Fens.

The park is surrounded by cultural institutions and schools, it has a beautiful rose garden and a large "victory" garden--where people apply for small plots to plant vegetables and/or flowers.

The Fenway is a pretty compact area. Sure you adjust your driving schedule around the starting and ending times of Red Sox games but that becomes second nature. You'll find more families walking around during that time than drunk revelers. But anyone driving into any part of the city takes events into consideration, whether they be Red Sox games, the Boston marathon, and the different walks and parades. It all makes the city an interesting and vibrant place to live.

The area seems to appeal to you, so maybe you can try it out with a short sublet or temporary housing.

As for ambulance noise--the large Longwood Medical Area is west of the Fenway and you'll hear ambulances in the distance if you're on a side street but you'll hear police cars and ambulances all over the city. Like Wyatt says--you stop hearing them. No big deal to most people.

There are lots of new restaurants in the area now and it's a short walk to the Back Bay commercial area.

Good luck!

ok, good to know indeed. So I found some sublets and maybe you can tell me about these streets. One is on the corner of Shawmut st and W. Newton st(South End) and another one is on the corner of Boylston st and Gloucester(Fenway). If you know of pretty good streets to take a peak, let me know:) I am 22 year old out of school so I understand what some of you said about the caos in Brighton. I think I can get use to the sirens noise in Fenway:) thank you!!

Have you used Google Earth to look at the streets you are considering? That can give you a visual idea of what areas look like?

I still stay if you can't do 1-month temporary housing to look around in person, at least try to sign the shortest lease possible on your 1st place. People can give their opinions and try to describe neighborhood "personalities" but it's not until you are IN a city that you can judge for yourself which best appeals to you.

Gotcha:) Actually these are temp leases, I was just still wondering what they were about. Thanks Suze!

elly,

The South End is not as convenient to public transportation and the neighborhood varies a lot from block to block. I'm not really familiar enough with the corner of Shawmut and W. Newton St. to comment. The South End has many of the top new restaurants in Boston.

The corner of Boylston and Gloucester is right smack dab in the Back Bay section of Boston, right opposite the Hynes Convention Center. I didn't know there were any apartments there on Boylston though the apartment you refer to may be on the Gloucester St. block.

Depending on where the apartment faced, it could be somewhat noisy--there is a bar right on Boylston at that corner. And parking would be a challenge. But, if you can live with that, you'd be in a great location--surrounded by stores and restaurants, near a large grocery store, and a couple of blocks away from the convention center subway stop on the Green Line. It would be a great place to start out in Boston. It has people walking around all day and late into the night so you would not feel unsafe going home.

It's across from the Prudential Center shopping area which connects to Copley Place--so you'd be adjacent to two large indoor shopping areas, which might be convenient when you're getting used to a Boston winter. The location is just a couple of blocks from the border of Back Bay and the Fenway.

The areas you are looking at require riding the T. Have you used public transportation before? There are stops along the green line where you will be squeezed in like a sardine. Your commute could become a big part of how well you like going to work everyday. It might be best to have the flexibility to move from one part of town to another to suit the commute.

Have you thought about living in a roommate situation until you get a feel for the area? My niece moved to Boston from another state and other than family, she didn't know anyone and was feeling very isolated. She's now lived in two different apts she found on Craig's List, one in Charlestown the other in Somerville. In both places she just needed to give a one-month notice. The beauty for her was that she found like-minded people who became friends. She has since talked about living alone, but likes have people to hang out with.

I'd pick the back bay (gloucester/boylston) location over the South End (shawmut/w newton) location.

Like CW says, the South End neighborhood can vary from block to block, and I don't know it well enough to tell you how it is at Shawmut & W Newton. In addition, SE is less convenient, as you'd have to catch the Silver Line (a bus) from Washington Street to DT crossing, then somehow switch over to Green Line. It's going to be a pain and you'll be standing on the street waiting for the Silver Line.

OTOH, the Back Bay location is close to everything you'd need; and the Green Line station is underground, and you can get to Lechmere without changing lines. But like cw says, that area can be noisy at night, esp weekends. However, given that you're only 22, I bet you can get used to that, and you'll probably be out until 2-3 am on weekends anyway!

Thank you guys for the info. When it comes to commuting, I will most likely rely on my car since I'm stuck with the lease. I have a feeling I'm going to end in the hotel for the first few days anyways, it looks like from all the great info you told me, there's too much to consider. I'm still on a hunt however so might bug you all later with new street names if the place seems descent:) thank you again!

Please reconsider the car issue. You will <u>most definitely</u> spend more time driving than using public transit to get to work.

And have you considered the cost of parking? It'll easily be $300-400 a month to park in a lot or garage in the Back Bay area. And what about parking situation at work? Have you checked that out?

If you choose to park on the streets, resident parking spots are limited and hard to come by, esp during winter when we get mountains of snow on the streets. You also have to figure out when is street cleaning (you have to move your car). Also, street parking is not allowed on most downtown streets during snow emergency.

I don't know where you're from, but having a car in downtown Boston is a liability.

I worked across the street from the Galleria for two years. The commute on the Green line is awful because a lot of the trains end in North Station so you have to get off and wait for another train to come and they didn't come frequently. There is a T parking lot at Lechmere for $4 per day but you need to get there by 7:30 am. The Galleria had special parking rates for local businesses which was something like $9 per day. Check into that.
Another commuting option for weekdays is to take the Red Line to Kendall Square and take the EZ Ride bus which stops right at the Galleria. http://www.charlesrivertma.org/program_ezride.htm
FYI there is a great Thai restaurant, Similian and Afgani restaurant, Helmand nearby.

If you'll have a car, the South End location makes way more sense than does Back Bay -- much easier to find on-street parking (though you'll need to register the car in Mass and get a Boston parking permit).

That said, the Back Bay would be a great location, as you could walk to a million different places, including work (though it might take 25-30 mins or so).

Hi Elly,

I am just now on the verge of making a move from AZ to Cambridge (only without a job and a place to live as of yet). I was wondering how did you fare in your move and how are you liking it now?? BTW, it seems like everyone was so helpful in their responses to you. It is very heart-warming to see such kindness on the internet. Did you find it easy enough to make friends once you were settled in the area?

Thank you for your guidance and input whenever you have the chance. :)

Hi greengirl - My daughter moved to Cambridge - without a job - a few years ago and did fine. She lived near Central Square which was a really nice area. She had friends in Davis square and Sommerville also, both good neighborhoods. Other than right around Harvard Square or MIT it's not too overrun with students. She took a part time job in retail for a couple of months before she found her full time job.

Hey! So the problem with Craigslist is the huge amount of scams! I'd recommend http://navut.com if you don't know the area, its an online tool to find neighborhoods and they have pretty much the same listings as craigslist. It's also free so check it out and see what comes up in your results!

The OP was looking for an apartment 6 years ago. Probably found something by now.