Boston Grad Student Housing Guide 2015-2016
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REVIEWS AND ADVICE FROM BU LAW STUDENTS BOSTON GRAD STUDENT HOUSING GUIDE 2015-2016 Housing data top properties neighborhoods explained Triple decker info apartment ratings renter resources Intelligent Apartment Search Where BU Law Students Live Who BU Law Students Live With 36% Allston 16% Alone 18% Brookline 17% Fenway/Kenmore 59% Roommate (excluding spouse/partner) 14% Brighton 25% Spouse/partner 15% Elsewhere in Boston area *17% of students live with pets **Under 5% of students have children What Types of Properties BU Law What Size Residences BU Law Students Students Live In Live In 40% Mid- or High-rise Apartment 18% Studios or Efficiencies Buildings 22% One Bedrooms 44% Standalone Apartment Units, Low- rises, and houses 23% Two Bedrooms 16% Mid- or High-rise Condo Buildings 37% Three or more Bedrooms Distribution of Overall Ratings Average Per-Person Rent by Apartment Size STUDIO $1,550 1BR $1,800 2BR $1,100 0-6.9 7.0-7.9 8.0-8.9 9.0-10 3BR+ 30% 18% 25% 26% $850 Rent versus Own Most Frequent Transit Method RENT 98% OWN 2% Driving/Cab Public Transit Walking Bike/Other 13% 50% 27% 10% 2 Contents Housing facts If you enjoy the guide, like us on Facebook 2 Our data on BU Law student housing and follow us on Twitter! Table of Contents 3 What’s in the 2015-2016 Boston grad student facebook.com/veryaptco housing guide VeryApt.com and Boston Overview @veryapt 4 Using the VeryApt website alongside this guide 6 Neighborhood Guides Allston, Brookline, Fenway/Kenmore, Brighton, Disclaimer Harvard/Central Square, Porter Square The reviews and ratings presented throughout this guide and the VeryApt website do not reflect Apartment Ratings/Pricing the opinions, position or endorsement of VeryApt 12 Compiled from reviews by current students or Boston University. The responses and reviews presented are solely those of the survey respondents. 13 Most popular apartments VeryApt and Boston University assume no 14 responsibility for readers’ or users’ interpretation of Highest rated apartments the data. The results do not in any way constitute 15 Best for families a warranty or representation by VeryApt or Boston University as to the quality, safety, or other features 16 Best for roommates of a property. Students are encouraged to check all available sources of information about properties Renter resources, triple deckers prior to leasing. The data in this guide is compiled 17 from BU Law students, though this guide is not an Landlord grades, renting process explained, triple official publication of Boston University. Finally, we deckers do not alter results or edit reviews based on any outside partnerships. However, “Featured” content Questions or comments on the housing guide? (unlike “Top” content) is often supplied by partners who helped support this guide, or is from new Contact Scott Bierbryer (Co-Founder, VeryApt) at: properties that lack reviews but are likely relevant to [email protected] | (561) 271-3202 students. 3 Use our intelligent search algorithm to receive a list of top properties Explore property details and reviews Book viewings directly with property managers and leasing agents Intelligent Apartment Search Why we started VeryApt, and how we can help you find your About the data in perfect apartment this guide My housing search began around this of our data in detail and sort buildings time two years ago. After the initial by ratings and features. In addition, excitement of getting accepted into we’ve partnered with the most popular This guide was compiled business school and I ran out of Game buildings to offer you accurate and from 2015 survey data of of Thrones episodes to watch on my up-to-date information, so you don’t over 100 current students company computer, I figured I needed have to sit in front of your computer to find a place to live. I really didn’t know refreshing Craigslist. much about the city, so I approached We asked students to rate every person I knew at business school We’re still in beta, so please reach out to their residences on a 1-10 to learn more. us if you experience any issues. Please try out our Intelligent Apartment Search scale Countless Google searches, Craigslist that will provide you with personalized refreshes, and spreadsheet tables later, I apartment recommendations based on Building ratings are figured out where I wanted to live. That your unique needs and budget. Please process helped me find an apartment I contact us with questions or feedback determined by averaging love - I managed to balance my desire on the site or this guide, and good luck these scores from for space, proximity to students, and with your housing search! students high-quality amenities. That said, it didn’t make sense that the process should be so time consuming. My Co-Founder (and Scott Visit VeryApt.com to neighbor), Ashrit Kamireddi, who worked search quickly for more at TripAdvisor prior to business school, Bierbryer went through the same process as I did [email protected] detailed amenity and and thought that the review and data rating information model he knew so well would be a great one to apply to apartments where grad Scott Bierbryer is a recent UPenn MBA students live. graduate student. Prior to business school, At VeryApt.com, you can he worked at Glenview Capital Management read reviews on buildings Two years and thousands of student in NYC. He is a Co-Founder of VeryApt and reviews later, we’re proud to offer in the guide as well as admitted students this guide along with currently lives in Philadelphia. other great properties in our companion site VeryApt.com. We Boston want this guide to be a starting point for your search: an idea of where you should be looking given your unique situation. The site allows you to go through all 4 Boston Neighborhoods Explained Boston is full of great places, but most students opt for Allston, Brookline, Fenway/Kenmore, and Brighton Davis Square Porter Square Harvard Square/ Central Square Kendall Beacon Hill Allston Square Charles RiverBack Bay BU Law Campus Brighton fenway/ Brookline Kenmore South End The Top FOUR BU Law Neighborhoods 1 Allston 2 Brookline Other Neighborhoods 36% of Students 18% of Students <5% of Students Each Popular spot for many students A quiet neighborhood close to Harvard Square/Central Square offering solid nightlife options, campus with great parks and 5 proximity to campus, and good green space, though better public transit access. That restaurants and grocery stores can 6 Porter Square said, some apartments in the be a bit harder to find here than in neighborhood can get pricey. other neighborhoods. 7 Beacon Hill 8 South End 3 Fenway/Kenmore 4 Brighton 9 Back Bay 17% of Students 14% of Students Davis Square A lively neighborhood with great Affordable option a bit farther 10 nightlife and restaurants, though away from both campus and the Red Sox game days can be a downtown scene. Quiet, clean, hassle. Street noise and parking and full of green space, but lacks may be larger issues than they are some of the city feel of other in other neighborhoods. neighborhood options. 5 Allston Close to campus with great nightlife options Location and Features What’s great Allston is bound on the north by the Charles River and on the south Great nightlife by the Massachusetts Turnpike. The west boundary extends to South Waverly Street, and the neighborhood ends to the east at Soldiers Field Close to transit and campus Road and the Charles River. Excellent restaurants Allston stands out for students that want access to good nightlife while also being close to public transit and campus. While students tell us that Lots of grad students it isn’t the most highly valued neighborhood in Boston, it offers most of what you need near school, including grocery stores and restaurants. In addition, most students told us that they feel safe in the area. That said, What could be better street parking can be a hassle and rents are a bit pricier in Allston than they are in some other nearby areas. Rent can get expensive Getting to BU Law Noisy in certain areas Lots of undergrads 35-45 15-25 15-25 5-10 Minutes Minutes Minutes Minutes Signature Spots Parks Pets Grocery Christian Herter Park, Soldier Petco Animal Supplies Shaw’s, Star Market Field Athletic Area, Library Park Fitness Beauty Dining Boston Boxing & Fitness, Body Mechanics, Milano Salon The Breakfast Club, Allston CrossFit Boston Diner, Regina Pizzeria 6 Brookline (northern) Quiet and safe with good transit access Location and Features What’s great The Town of Brookline borders the western neighborhoods of Boston, Quiet and safe bound to the north near the Massachusetts Turnpike and to the east by the Emerald Necklace Park. Close to campus Most students opting for Brookline live in the northernmost part of the Transit access (B/C/D lines) town, where walking to campus is a solid option. Students also value the proximity to the B, C, and D lines while also being a bit farther from Nearby parks and green undergrads. The area is highlighted for its quiet and safe atmosphere, space but apartments can still be expensive and, while there are certainly some grocery stores and drug stores in the area, they are often not as close as What could be better students would like. Expensive rent Getting to BU Law Few stores in the area Farther from social scene 30-40 15-20 30-40 5-10 Minutes Minutes Minutes Minutes Signature Spots Parks Pets Grocery Amory Park Brookline Grooming Trader Joe’s, Star Market, Whole Foods Fitness Beauty Dining GymIt Michael’s Salon, Dellaria Salon Roast Beast, Barcelona Brookline, Ariana 7 Fenway/Kenmore Great transit options and nightlife but can get crowded on game days Location and Features What’s great Fenway/Kenmore is home to Fenway Park, where the Boston Red Great transit access (B, C, D) Sox play, starting at the Charles River on the north and ending around Tremont Street to the south.