Relocating to Boston!

The areas you're looking at are most convenient to getting to Children's either by walking or public transit, yes. You could also try Newton, as it's on the D line (the same line that goes to Longwood). Those options would all be pretty expensive, however. Jamaica Plain is close, and you could take the 39 bus there (super easy, less than 20 min). If you open up your search to places on the Orange Line, you'd have additional, less expensive options. MASCO offers a free shuttle from the Ruggles stop on the orange line for longwood-area employees; the shuttle takes less than 10 min to get you to the hospital, but the actual commute on the subway would be longer, about 20 min or so. Towns on the orange line include Charlestown, Melrose, Medford---I'm not as familiar with those areas, but they're supposed to be pretty nice. Not like living IN the city, but good features on their own.

Hey! I got offered a position at Boston Children's and need to find a place to live asap! I don't know the areas that well, but people definitely recommend living outside the city as it is much cheaper. I've been looking at Brookline, Brighton, Coolidge Corner, and Fenway but haven't had that much luck on craigslist. I do own a dog so that has made it extra difficult. Any local advice would help!!

Donna

Brighton and Fenway are both IN the city. Fenway is walking distance to the hospital but it's kind of a crazy area, especially in the spring/summer/fall. I don't think Brookline is any cheaper than some of the neighborhoods of Boston. I lived in Brighton for 4 years while working in the Longwood Area and it was definitely convenient, although the D line is a royal PITA when there's a Red Sox game. I'd look at Allston/Brighton, Brookline, Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill. The apartment building I lived in in Brighton allowed dogs.

Thanks for your input! I'm really not extremely familiar with the Boston area and was itching toward Jamaica Plain, but with Medford as a an option, I'll def. look into that. I've tried craigslist, but am curious what other people have used to find roommates.

Donna

Are you working off hours or days?

South Boston is also an easy commute to CHB, is affordable, is on the water and the highway, and has a lot of dog-friendly parks and condos.

I know from experience that all new hires at Children's for inpatient units rotate. South Boston is an easy commute, some of the buses from there drop right off in Longwood. Might also consider the South End, the North End or Charlestown.

Stay away from the likes of Dorchester (except for a few select areas), Roxbury or Mattapan. You will undoubtedly be working off-shifts and you don't want to feel unsafe when going home.

I haven't ever had random roommates so I can't help you there. Is living alone not an option, OP?

I lived in Medford for 4 years and I enjoyed it. It's fairly cheap. Are you looking for a studio or bigger? We had a dog and that definitely made our search MUCH more difficult. It seems if you want to pay 1600+ a month, those are the places that allow dogs in my experience.

South Boston is incredibly expensive these days now that the East Side has re-gentrified. West Side is affordable but a bit sketchier and less convenient. I would opt for Brighton but be warned: the inventory for rentals around the city is sporifice and dog-friendly is that much harder. My husband and I were planning to move from our 100+ year old, dog-friendly, undergrad-free building to upsize to a 2-bed and we couldn't find anything decent for less than $1850 without heat included to $2000+ and most of them were literally like basement apartments or in a frat house! As it is, we pay $1550 and have one of te cheapest apartments. Is Watertown an option for you? You could easily bus it to the train.

I would suggest quincy, its a nice suburb right of the major train lines. Not as expensive and

I would definitely suggest looking in quincy, its a nice suburb just south of boston. Its a short drive into boston, right on major train line (and buses), and affordable rent!