Renting a place right in the city can be extremely expensive, even just grabbing a cup of coffee includes a jacked up price. Here are some of the best neighborhoods in and around the Boston zip code where you should consider renting.
– Allston – Brighton Area
Two different towns, but they are extremely similar and often interwoven between the community. The average median age is around 24 years old, and most of the places are apartments, making it a pretty standard and great option for young people. There’s a good nightlife scene and bar scene, but also has plenty of Little League baseball games and kid friendly activities. It combines urban and suburban life seamlessly, and of course, average home prices aren’t as high as in other areas of the city.
– Beacon Hill Area
Beacon Hill is definitely up on the price range list, so if you’re on a tight budget, it’s probably best you don’t look here. On the other hand, if you’ve got a refined sense of taste and some money in your pocket, you will fall in love with this cute, picturesque neighborhood full of brownstones, gas-lit street lights and cobblestone pathways. The apartments here are costly so you’ll likely be renting a smaller place than you would in another area, but if history combined with luxury are what you want in a place, Beacon Hill could be the place for you. Extremely close to great upscale dining, delightful cafes and fun boutiques. It’s also one been ranked one of the safer neighborhoods in Boston.
**If you’re willing to shell out some bigger bucks in Back Bay, check out our post on the Colonnade Residences.
– Cambridge
Cambridge is a university town (ever heard of that school Harvard, or MIT?) where you can find an intellectually vibrant neighborhood that’s also quirky and fun. Bookstores line the streets, hipster coffee shops and pubs, campus parks and grounds, and there are constantly students walking around. If you are looking for a place with an alternative music scene, funky independent shops and lots of bustling squares, Cambridge is the spot for you.
**For cool concerts with local and bigger-name artists, check out the Middle East club while you are there.
– Jamaica Plain
Jamaica Plain a bit less “well-known” to the public and often goes overlooked when discussing neighborhoods, but is a great place if you are looking for a creative, diverse urban neighborhood while also escaping crowds and noise that come from being in too close to downtown Boston. Home to all kinds of people (it’s LGBT friendly and culturally varied, including a large Latino population) with activist bents, it’s also got lots of grassland if you are into jogging, biking, and gardening. It is known to also have a low crime rate and a nice small-neighborhood feel. It is close to Brookline as well, so Coolidge Corner is only a few steps away.
– Fenway
If you’re a sports fan, go to Boston University, or just like action where you live all the time, the Fenway-Kenmore Square area is the spot for you. Most non-locals here the name and only associate it to the Red Sox, but it is so much more than that. Jam-packed with bars (sports bars are the favorite) and good (not-so-healthy) food, with a young population with it being so active and close to campuses, it is a great place for young renters and students who like to be where the fun is, and there are not many families because the area can get crazy around game days occasionally. While this may appear to be a pricey area, affordable apartments pop up on side streets and you can find some great bargains if you’re willing to put up with the extra traffic and noise when there is a game.
** If you are willing to spend some money, check out these beautiful apartments in the Fenway Trilogy.
These are some of the best places to rent in Boston, so if one of these neighborhoods looks like it has what you are looking for, contact us at viberesidential@gmail.com or nikejohn@vibe-re.com for information so we can help you find your spot.