Where to live in Boston as a young family with a toddler?

Question

We are New Yorkers but have lived for overseas for various years, due to my husband´s job. He is the hospitality industry and just got offered a job at a great property in Downtown Boston. However, I am hearing many negative information on Boston and how dangerous it is. We have a 2.5 yr old toddler and I want to make sure we are in a safe place. A lot of the information that I have found is from some years ago and would like more of an up to date info it at all possible.

We do not have a car but might acquire one down the line, so being close to shops, supermarkets, and mass transit is a plus for us.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Boston is mostly safe

Jjust avoid: Mattapan, Dorchester and Roxbury



in the city, you might want to live in Fenway, Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury

Answer 2

Statistically, Boston is safer than most cities in the US. And if you avoid the bad neighborhoods of Mattapan, Roxbury, and most of Dorchester, it's extremely safe. Statistically it's comparable to NYC.



I'm not sure how much your husband will be earning so I'm not certain what you're looking for in terms of price. Boston overall is one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country, as I'm sure you know, although if you're used to NYC real estate prices it won't be so much of a shock.



Brookline is a very safe area. It's technically a separate town from Boston but is almost completely surrounded by Boston. It's more urban than an outer suburb of course, but it's got parks and quiet side streets. It's got a good school system and a huge number of restaurants, supermarkets, a great bookstore, restored art deco movie theater that shows independent films, and any other business you could need, in addition to public transit for a short trip downtown and to Cambridge and other places so many people live there without cars. It's not an inexpensive part of Boston, however.



Parts of Cambridge might also have what you're looking for, and Newton is also not far from downtown (a bit of a longer commute to downtown than Brookline, but it's still pretty close in and has public transportation).



Keep in mind the public transportation schedules as well. Public transit is decent in Boston compared to a lot of other cities, but not quite as extensive as NYC. (Although there are parts of Boston where people live without cars - I did it for many years and even now don't regularly use my car to commute).

Answer 3

Have you looked already at housing prices? Rent is quite high in Boston so this may factor in where you live. Are you looking for any sort of yard with a toddler - it is unlikely you will find one right in Boston - although you can go to the parks. Boston is generally safe - there are some areas "less safe".



There are also many towns where you can take public transportation just right outside of Boston that might be helpful if you are planning at some point to buy a car (as to house a car in Boston is expensive) and forget about trying to park it on the street.



One thing to consider - is the hours your husband will be working. I know in hospitality industry, depending on his position and where he works, he could be working odd hours. If so, he would need to see if public transportation is available.

Answer 4

Most of the communities surrounding the metro Boston hub have a very good standard of living,the schools and infrastructure are very well kept,because of the high percentage of educated and professional people who dwell there,these places are ideal for a family such as your's.Mind you these places aren't cheap to live in,only NY,and Ca or Hi and some other high cost of living are more than it is here,taxachusetts is a nickname for good reason.If you intend to move to one of these a car will be essential for daily life,and the winters are brutal.Most have a suv,4 wheel or allwheeel drive because of this fact.Oh,and one more thing,very aggressive drivers.The outer lying towns are safer than the inner city,lower crime rates and better policing.Commuting is a nightmare into and out of the city at rush hour.

Answer 5

there are so many great suburbs within 15 minutes of Boston that have amazing school systems..(some of the best in the Country), and the subway/bus/mbta system is really good..



Check out Reading, MA, The commuter rail picks up in there and goes right to downtown Boston.



Any surrounding towns near Reading are just as good...



Acton, MA is constantly voted one of the best towns to live in in Mass... same with Newton and Belmont. Newton and Belmont are really close to Boston.



Some other towns to check out...a little further but still voted best in the state/country.



Chelmsford, MA

Concord, MA



I would check out Reading, Newton and Belmont MA. All great for what you are looking for and readily available for public transit.

Answer 6

Are you serious??? For an American large city Boston (actually you should consider it Boston/Cambridge) is one of the USA's safer cities. It, like N.Y.C., also has both a subway and an extensive commuter train system. In fact, better than N.Y.C., most of Boston's subway lines extend into the near suburbs. so your choice of safe living areas located near shops, supermarkets and mass transit stations, in the city, in nearby suburbs and in outlying suburbs, too, are very, very numerous.



Also, for when you need a car for week-end jaunts or whatever, Boston is currently the top city market in the country for Zipcar (if you do not know what this company is check zipcar.com).

Answer 7

Boston has ghettos which have high crime far south from downtown called Mattapan and parts of Roxbury, and Dorchester. Every American city has crime ridden ghettos which are made up of mostly non white people.

Answer 8

Sorry however the shows you watch are poor. attempt watching soaps like coronation highway, eastenders, emmerdale and watch issues like nationwide lottery and despite interest that consists of it, casualty, you have been framed and so on.