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

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Winter Hill is hit-or-miss. Some streets are nice, but some feel a little bit sketchy. The area between Highland Ave. and Union Square is pretty nice. The lack of subway access in those neighborhoods can be an issue.

You may want to check out East Somerville (the neighborhood around Broadway after you go down Winter Hill past McGrath). It's very close to Sullivan Square for subway access (orange line, but give it a chance) with a bus route to Davis. A lot of the side streets off Broadway are pretty nice.

[dcart.livejournal.com]

It's been 5 years since I lived there, but I liked East Somerville. The 89 is a pretty frequent, reliable bus line. The Orange Line isn't so bad and the neighborhood has some character. I lived right on Broadway. The side streets on my side of broadway did have some nice little blocks back there, not so much on the other side of the street at the time.