Moving to Boston
Discussion
Hi all,
I'd be grateful if anyone could advise with regarding to renting a property in Boston. My stepdaughter is due to study over there starting in August and would welcome advise on where to avoid, likely cost, recommendations, etc.
She will be at a work placement rather than at the university itself and I currently have no idea of the exact location!! I'll update as soon as I know but planning ahead is not her forte so it's down to me.
Cheers
I'd be grateful if anyone could advise with regarding to renting a property in Boston. My stepdaughter is due to study over there starting in August and would welcome advise on where to avoid, likely cost, recommendations, etc.
She will be at a work placement rather than at the university itself and I currently have no idea of the exact location!! I'll update as soon as I know but planning ahead is not her forte so it's down to me.
Cheers
Which university? There are several.
Boston is pretty expensive in terms of rents. Other than that, though, cost of living is, like most of the US, cheaper than here in the UK.
Harvard and MIT I don't know too much about - they're over the river in Cambridge/Somerville from where I was but certainly not cheap.
If she's going to BC, then proximity means Brighton, so you're looking at about $1200 minimum for a 1 bedroom (mine was 1600 but I opted for somewhere a bit more expansive and right on the T.) Also beware of a 45 minute T ride / 25 buck cab ride to downtown. This is also one of the cheapest, easily accessibly areas. (Places like Watertown are cheaper but don't have a T link)
BU means anything from Cambridge (have to commute over the river, not as bad as it sounds if one has a car - no T line though, so bus only for public transport) or Allston/Brookline (green line on the T - very frequent). Probably 1k and up.
Suffolk University...whoooo...that's right downtown. 2k+ for a 1bed.
In terms of areas to avoid - Dorchester, Roxbury...anywhere Southie, ie the southeast portion. Jamaica Plain is a street by street thing, so best to avoid it anyway if you don't know it. Back Bay is the yuppie area - overpriced but desirable. Downtown really isn't a great place to live unless you're in Beacon Hill, in which case it's fantastic (but that's a 2.5k a month shoebox). North End is vibrant and fun, but, again, expensive. 1.8k and up.
Think of Boston as the US version of Edinburgh or York. Small, compact, loads of history, but with lots of subsumed, outlying areas and rents that drop dramatically as you head outwards. All of the surrounding conurbations used to be (not still are, despite what the locals think
) towns in their own right. They do all have their own identity, though.
Public transport is good - the T runs all over the place until midnight (I believe it's going to be extended to 2am on weekend nights very shortly) and plenty of buses. There are always loads of cabs around in the more popular areas, too, and they're not incomparable to our UK prices - although they seem expensive to the yanks.
Random other thoughts - one can drive on one's UK licence for a year in MA. ZipCar is extremely good value if you're going to need a car very rarely.
Food is cheap - eating out is plentiful and good value, but for groceries, one can get PeaPod to deliver if one can't be arsed to drive
Internet/cable TV is usually restricted to Comcast. About $40 a month for internet, another 30 or so for TV. Some areas have FiOS (Verizon's offering) or another I can't recall. Prices are all similar though
Cellphones are comparable to here.
Heating and hot water should be included in the rent - don't get anywhere without it. Aircon isn't usually included, as they're usually window units, but I'd recommend getting somewhere that has them (electricity cost will go up in the summer as a result, but by god are they worth it)
The Beehive in BackBay is an excellent bar/restaurant and Emmetts & Barracuda downtown are my old haunts
It's a great town and I love it to bits. I'd move back there in a heartbeat (but only for a fixed year as I'd end up missing Edinburgh again)
Oh - and has she got her visa sorted? That's a *massive* ballache. Even more so as a work placement than as a student. That needs to be squared away and verified ASAP.
Boston is pretty expensive in terms of rents. Other than that, though, cost of living is, like most of the US, cheaper than here in the UK.
Harvard and MIT I don't know too much about - they're over the river in Cambridge/Somerville from where I was but certainly not cheap.
If she's going to BC, then proximity means Brighton, so you're looking at about $1200 minimum for a 1 bedroom (mine was 1600 but I opted for somewhere a bit more expansive and right on the T.) Also beware of a 45 minute T ride / 25 buck cab ride to downtown. This is also one of the cheapest, easily accessibly areas. (Places like Watertown are cheaper but don't have a T link)
BU means anything from Cambridge (have to commute over the river, not as bad as it sounds if one has a car - no T line though, so bus only for public transport) or Allston/Brookline (green line on the T - very frequent). Probably 1k and up.
Suffolk University...whoooo...that's right downtown. 2k+ for a 1bed.
In terms of areas to avoid - Dorchester, Roxbury...anywhere Southie, ie the southeast portion. Jamaica Plain is a street by street thing, so best to avoid it anyway if you don't know it. Back Bay is the yuppie area - overpriced but desirable. Downtown really isn't a great place to live unless you're in Beacon Hill, in which case it's fantastic (but that's a 2.5k a month shoebox). North End is vibrant and fun, but, again, expensive. 1.8k and up.
Think of Boston as the US version of Edinburgh or York. Small, compact, loads of history, but with lots of subsumed, outlying areas and rents that drop dramatically as you head outwards. All of the surrounding conurbations used to be (not still are, despite what the locals think
) towns in their own right. They do all have their own identity, though.Public transport is good - the T runs all over the place until midnight (I believe it's going to be extended to 2am on weekend nights very shortly) and plenty of buses. There are always loads of cabs around in the more popular areas, too, and they're not incomparable to our UK prices - although they seem expensive to the yanks.
Random other thoughts - one can drive on one's UK licence for a year in MA. ZipCar is extremely good value if you're going to need a car very rarely.
Food is cheap - eating out is plentiful and good value, but for groceries, one can get PeaPod to deliver if one can't be arsed to drive
Internet/cable TV is usually restricted to Comcast. About $40 a month for internet, another 30 or so for TV. Some areas have FiOS (Verizon's offering) or another I can't recall. Prices are all similar though
Cellphones are comparable to here.
Heating and hot water should be included in the rent - don't get anywhere without it. Aircon isn't usually included, as they're usually window units, but I'd recommend getting somewhere that has them (electricity cost will go up in the summer as a result, but by god are they worth it)
The Beehive in BackBay is an excellent bar/restaurant and Emmetts & Barracuda downtown are my old haunts
It's a great town and I love it to bits. I'd move back there in a heartbeat (but only for a fixed year as I'd end up missing Edinburgh again)
Oh - and has she got her visa sorted? That's a *massive* ballache. Even more so as a work placement than as a student. That needs to be squared away and verified ASAP.
Edited by Famous Graham on Tuesday 11th February 03:47
Thanks Graham, lots of excellent information.
She is doing a work placement rather than studying at a University and we don't know her exact location as yet.
Looking at some of those costs, I hope she will be sharing. Her original plan was to "sort something when I get there" which didn't receive a favourable reply, especially as I'm footing the bill.
She doesn't drive so will need a good public transport system and is on the case with the visa. Hopefully the people from the placement may recommend some decent places.
She is doing a work placement rather than studying at a University and we don't know her exact location as yet.
Looking at some of those costs, I hope she will be sharing. Her original plan was to "sort something when I get there" which didn't receive a favourable reply, especially as I'm footing the bill.
She doesn't drive so will need a good public transport system and is on the case with the visa. Hopefully the people from the placement may recommend some decent places.
Thanks Graham, lots of excellent information.
She is doing a work placement rather than studying at a University and we don't know her exact location as yet.
Looking at some of those costs, I hope she will be sharing. Her original plan was to "sort something when I get there" which didn't receive a favourable reply, especially as I'm footing the bill.
She doesn't drive so will need a good public transport system and is on the case with the visa. Hopefully the people from the placement may recommend some decent places.
She is doing a work placement rather than studying at a University and we don't know her exact location as yet.
Looking at some of those costs, I hope she will be sharing. Her original plan was to "sort something when I get there" which didn't receive a favourable reply, especially as I'm footing the bill.
She doesn't drive so will need a good public transport system and is on the case with the visa. Hopefully the people from the placement may recommend some decent places.
That's ringing alarm bells...particularly if no destination work address has been specified. It took just over a year for my visa to get sorted and that wasnt particularly slow - we had a decent US lawyer on the case.
Also, as it's such a college heavy town, the vast majority of leases run from September 1st and get sorted out waaaay ahead of that. "Sorting it out when she gets there" isn't going to work out well. At all.
Also, as it's such a college heavy town, the vast majority of leases run from September 1st and get sorted out waaaay ahead of that. "Sorting it out when she gets there" isn't going to work out well. At all.
I think the workplace destination has been decided, she just hasn't told us yet!!
I'm trying to get information and help sort things out but in typical student fashion it's "why do you need to know that" or "I can do that when I get there"
I'll see what more I can discover but the only Boston she may be visiting is in Lincolnshire!!!
I'm trying to get information and help sort things out but in typical student fashion it's "why do you need to know that" or "I can do that when I get there"
I'll see what more I can discover but the only Boston she may be visiting is in Lincolnshire!!!
I think Graham has given you all you need to know here (I was a bit saddened to hear you'd repatriated yourself!).
As he said, the visa is the beginning, middle and end of this, as everything else is irrelevant without that keystone component.
Internships are usually under the umbrella of F or sometimes J visas and are by no means a slam-dunk and are always petitioned by an academic institution, not the intern. Be very wary if there is even the slightest hint of uncertainty or generalization in this regard - it can't be fudged.
"Work placement" is not a term that is in the US visa vernacular, as far as I'm aware.
As he said, the visa is the beginning, middle and end of this, as everything else is irrelevant without that keystone component.
Internships are usually under the umbrella of F or sometimes J visas and are by no means a slam-dunk and are always petitioned by an academic institution, not the intern. Be very wary if there is even the slightest hint of uncertainty or generalization in this regard - it can't be fudged.
"Work placement" is not a term that is in the US visa vernacular, as far as I'm aware.
Thanks Matt,
We are meeting up this weekend so will have more info.
I know how much of a ball ache it can be obtaining a Visa and the hassle of being kicked out because it's wrong!!
She "know's" someone who went last year and it's a doddle apparently!!!!
Edit to add: It is connected with her degree course here in the UK so whether it's a study/work type thing I've no idea.
We are meeting up this weekend so will have more info.
I know how much of a ball ache it can be obtaining a Visa and the hassle of being kicked out because it's wrong!!
She "know's" someone who went last year and it's a doddle apparently!!!!
Edit to add: It is connected with her degree course here in the UK so whether it's a study/work type thing I've no idea.
Edited by M001 on Tuesday 11th February 15:40
Matt Harper said:
(I was a bit saddened to hear you'd repatriated yourself!).
Heh, cheers. I'd got our guys up to speed quicker than anticipated and things were happening back home that I was starting to miss, so I had an executive decision and cut it short at 15 months. As it happens I actually flew back at the end of April, a week after all that fun and games....M001 said:
Thanks Matt,
We are meeting up this weekend so will have more info.
I know how much of a ball ache it can be obtaining a Visa and the hassle of being kicked out because it's wrong!!
She "know's" someone who went last year and it's a doddle apparently!!!!
Edit to add: It is connected with her degree course here in the UK so whether it's a study/work type thing I've no idea.
Nothing, but nothing that involves USCIS is a 'doddle'.We are meeting up this weekend so will have more info.
I know how much of a ball ache it can be obtaining a Visa and the hassle of being kicked out because it's wrong!!
She "know's" someone who went last year and it's a doddle apparently!!!!
Edit to add: It is connected with her degree course here in the UK so whether it's a study/work type thing I've no idea.
Edited by M001 on Tuesday 11th February 15:40
Famous Graham said:
Heh, cheers. I'd got our guys up to speed quicker than anticipated and things were happening back home that I was starting to miss, so I had an executive decision and cut it short at 15 months. As it happens I actually flew back at the end of April, a week after all that fun and games....
Mission accomplished then - can't have done your CV any harm either.Gassing Station | USA & Canada | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff