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Allston/Brighton The heterogeneity of Allston/ Brighton's ethnic, racial and economic composition has given it the nickname of "the Cuisinart of the city neighborhoods." It is one of the city's best integrated and most diverse neighborhoods with large numbers of students, elderly and working class families presenting a wide variety of lifestyles. Allston/ Brighton is bordered by Cambridge and the Back Bay on the east, Brookline on the south, Newton on the west and Watertown on the north. Allston/Brighton can be divided into three major areas: Allston, Commonwealth and Brighton. All three areas are popular with students for their access to area universities and their lower rents. The major shopping area in Allston/ Brighton is located along the green line at the intersection of Harvard and Commonwealth Avenues, offering residents easy access to numerous reasonably priced stores. Allston is divided in half by the Massachusetts Turnpike. North Allston is a mixture of residential and industrial areas while South Allston is mostly large apartment buildings and commercial and retail enterprises. The predominant housing type in North Allston is two and three family houses while large apartment buildings dominate in South Allston. The quality of the housing stock in Allston is generally mixed varying from well maintained to some buildings that show neglect. The Commonwealth area is dominated by Allston/Brighton's major thoroughfare, Commonwealth Avenue, along which the Boston College green line T runs. Commonwealth Avenue is Allston/ Brighton's major stretch of large apartment buildings, most of which include heat and hot water in the rent. Students tend to choose housing along Commonwealth Avenue because of the accessibility to the green line T. Commonwealth Avenue is more densely populated than the rest of Allston/Brighton, with a high degree of absentee landlordism and generally low quality housing. Commonweatlh Avenue also tends to have a higher rate of vandalism than other parts of the area. Brighton is the most residential of the three areas. Single, two and three family homes predominate and the quality of the neighborhood and the housing rents tend to be higher in Brighton than in Allston. Brighton is probably the safest area of Allston/Brighton. Allston/Brighton's two and three family houses can offer a pleasant residential environment that is quite different from the congestion of city apartment buildings. Two to three bedroom units are most common in the area's rental houses. The predominance of single to three family homes in much of Allston/Brighton results in a relatively high proportion of unheated units. Be sure to consider heating costs and investigate energy saving measures. Allston/Brighton is generally well served by public transit via the Boston College green line T and various buses. Parts of Allston are also within a 20 minute walk of Harvard Square. The best way to MIT from this area would be to take the green line to the Hynes Convention Center/ICA T stop and walk down Massachusetts Avenue and across the Harvard Bridge (about a 15 minute walk). In bad weather, you can take the T to Park Street and take the red line to Kendall Square or take the #1 Dudley bus to MIT from in front of the Hynes Convention Center/ICA T stop. If you are not close to the green line, buses run through Allston/Brighton to Kenmore, Harvard and Central Squares. From Kenmore you can walk to MIT in about 20 minutes, from Harvard you can take the red line or the #1 Dudley bus and from Central Square you can walk down Massachusetts Avenue to MIT. If you live in Allston/Brighton you may decide to purchase a T pass. Parking is a problem in much of Allston/Brighton. A residential parking sticker program is in effect in most of Allston/Brighton. Without a residential parking sticker, street parking is prohibited. Off-street parking is limited in much of Allston/Brighton so be sure to check the parking situation before moving in. Allston/Brighton's rents are slightly less than other Boston area neighborhoods considered. If you do not mind commuting to MIT Allston/Brighton can offer a more residential atmosphere than in many areas of the city. Neighborhoods in Allston/Brighton vary widely even from block to block, so be sure to check your neighborhood carefully for safety and desirability.
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