<p>Hey guys, Northeastern is my top choice but I'm not sure I'll be able to handle the cost of living there. I'm married with 4 kids, what options are there for me that don't involve a bad side of town? A guesstimate of prices would be great too.</p>
<p>Many thanks</p>
<p>Just live in freshmen housing, I definitely recommend it. That way you get the full college experience, you know? I’m sure your roommate won’t mind.</p>
<p>The average cost for a 3 bdrm apt in suburbs around Boston w/out utilities is around $1,900. A nice apartment in a good area of the city could cost you over $2,400.</p>
<p>How many bedrooms do you need?
How much can you pay?
How long are you willing to commute?
Do you have a car?
How old are the kids - do they need public school?</p>
<p>What is your standard for bad side of town? It’s really in the eye of the beholder. </p>
<p>Jamaica Plain near any orange line stop might be a good bet. 12 minutes to Northeastern. </p>
<p>The other direction, I’m guessing Malden might be a good bet. About 30 minutes on the orange line. There are some nice areas near Malden Center or Oak Grove stations, but some not so nice ones too. You can tell. </p>
<p>Even better, but not that easy to find a place, would be Medford near Wellington or Melrose near Oak Grove. Melrose is suburban and has decent schools, but from parts of it, you can walk to the last stop on the Orange Line. </p>
<p>In both places 3 brs are in the $1500-$1750 range</p>
<p>There are also some decent apartments in East Cambridge, near Lechmere. It’s a pretty safe area, though its not the prettiest part of Cambridge.</p>