Why are 1BR apartments so expensive here?

[guxx.livejournal.com]

Hidden behind the cut for those who don't care. To the rest, thanks!


I've been living near Teele Square since last spring, so am familiar with the general Davis/Porter areas but not the rest of the city. I'm currently in a roommate situation but am moving out when my lease expires June 1, and want a 1BR unit. The problem is the amenities I want and the budget I'm willing to spend pretty much limits me to Quincy, Malden, and parts of Allston-Brighton (to be on the subway anyway).

Somerville has 1BRs in my pricerange, but centered around Winter Hill and Union Square. I've driven through both areas (and eaten in the latter), but how safe are they to live? I've heard Winter Hill is ghetto-like (at least it looks that way) and Union Square isn't much better. Thoughts? And do the buses run frequently?

If anybody happens to know of a vacancy, please let me know. The folks at the apartment rental agency on College Ave (across from Store24) were unhelpful to me.

Thanks!

Comments

[ron_newman]

My synagogue is on Central Street in Winter Hill, and that certainly doesn't feel "ghetto-like" to me. The streets are tree-lined with nice houses on them. Congressman Mike Capuano lives right across the street from the synagogue.

[chumbolly.livejournal.com]

That's a beautiful street. Somerville seems to have this neat pattern of alternating streets with fine, unique homes with a couple streets that are more working class tract. Seems like smart urban planning to me. And the tops of the Somerville hills always have better architecture. That section of Central is both on a hill and one of the "every third street that's nice" streets. Makes it doubly nice.