[avitalporatova]

I've lived in some really nice, clean and uppity parts of Boston... now I live in Dorchester and can honestly say that for the first time in my life I actually love where I live. Truly love it. I know all of my neighbors - up and down the street - and even though they are all so different, neighbors actually hang out together.

On my one little street alone, we have starting at the top... lesbians, blue-collar Polish plumber and his brother who are in business together, 80 year old Irish widow, mid-30s yuppy couple with 2 toddlers, two old married gay guys, a history teacher at Boston College and his family, a 30-ish newly-wed black couple from Georgia (they are always cooking, always sharing), a married older gay couple with their 4 gay little yipping dogs, an Irish family with three kids from 3-10 years old...

In my other neighborhoods everyone was white and wealthy and members of some kind of elite (be it academia, government, finance, law, etc) and nobody every spoke to one another except for the occasional "hello". They were "head down, no-eye-contact" neighborhoods.

Now, I live amidst an entire world of people, and I can't walk my dog to the end of my street without talking to at least a few neighbors. The old lady from across the street calls me at work to tell me that I left a light on and to admonish me that electricity is expensive!

But if you consider Dorchester, be very, very careful. Dorchester is the size of the Back Bay, Fenway, BEacon Hill, South End, Downtown, North End and the South End COMBINED. So there are good parts, bad parts, and horrible parts.

It's problem is that all these completely unique neighborhoods go by just one name "Dorchester" so nobody has any idea that there are such nice parts because the bad parts on the news at night make the headlines and tarnish the entire Dorchester name.

My favorite picture (courtesy of the agent that moved me to Dorchester)
Melville Park, Dorchester:


The Filene's Mansion (now condos) Savin Hill:


The area is cheap, a quick walk to the beach/water and a quick walk to the Red Line. But again, be careful! There are some parts of Dorchester (West Dorchester) that are a disaster!

[Cyzkrahu]

Like the photo of Kenmore Square + the Citgo station in particular. I love advertising kitsch. You capture light really well.

[Mymnnarry]

The other thing to consider is you don't have to live within Boston proper. Cambridge, Somerville, and even Medford are next door and have much lower rents. Like any place though there are great parts and not so great parts. When I was still in town most of the people I knew lived around Porter Sq (on the border of Cambridge and Somerville)

There is also Brighton which is very nice too and where many post-College grads live. Not sure about the rents though since I haven't lived in Boston in 3 years, but I know the area is nice.

[pfcwlkxav]

...he could always move into DTX...against toby's warning. Or Northpoint, he'd be close enough to both Cambridge and Downtown. My best bet would be Dorchester. Good prices, nice places, easy access, not too many college kids. However, once in Dorchester, I don't know how much there is for amentities...I've never really explored there, though.

[diundasmink]

Charlestown might as well be on an island. It's eerily quiet and a long, lonely walk to the T stops, which don't do much good past certain hours (it's true the commute downtown is an easy walk from the southern half of the neighborhood, but that's also the expensive part). It's also got a nasty history of social insularity as well (I can volunteer some experiences). Nothing to do there and hard to get out - why anyone would live there without family ties or some enticing inheritance is beyond me.

[avitalporatova]

My advice to you would be to keep your income low so that you can afford to live in downtown luxury skyscrapers like the Clarendon. In order to qualify for government-subsidized housing, you have to keep your income low. Since you have, as you put it, a better half, then that person can have a large income and just not be listed on the lease with the Boston Housing Authority. You guys can live the life of luxury on the cheap. There are no laws enforced, no regulations to worry about and there is ample inexpensive, luxury housing for everyone. Welcome to Boston! Oh, I should mention that our state is practically bankrupt.

Thus, Eastie will soon be cut off with $7 tolls into the city. That'll do wonders for the Eastie property values.

[dmitrynts]

Quote:

[diundasmink]

I don't think anyone chooses a neighborhood based on its proximity to the Garden anyway.

Except maybe that guy in Celtic Pride. Didn't he live in Charlestown?

[Calluffence]

My 1st apt in Boston was on the corner of Allston and Summit ave,but I too left and have been in Dorchester since 1987! I do miss Allston but don't miss the green line! I do miss being able to walk to everything,I live in Dorchester Center but there's nothing there for me,Once I get behind my gate I thank who ever that I made it home again! I do love my home my fish ponds out front and my small gardens,I have a lot of great nieghbors but could do with out the crime (I've said this before but I've been a victim of crime 16 times and have had 9 (another 2 weeks ago!)people shot or shot dead with in 50 ft of my front door) I also hate how dirty Dorchester is!