Boston area communities have a wide variety of amenities to offer. In choosing where to live, you will have to weigh your priorities: low crime rates, for example, or low rents vs. quality of housing. Be sure to consider transportation, parking and utility costs as these factors can considerably alter your total monthly housing bill. Keep in mind that you only get what you pay for.

	Advantages	Disadvantages
Allston/Brighton
	-access to public transit -access to shopping -diverse neighborhood -lower rent	-distance from MIT -quality of housing -safety -residential parking sticker program -many undergraduate tenants
Arlington
	-quality of housing -safety -suburban residential environment -access to public transit -good school system	-distance from MIT -no overnight street parking
Back Bay
	-proximity to MIT -access to public transit -access to amenities of life in Boston	-quality of housing -extremely high rents -residential parking sticker program -lack of parking -many undergraduate tenants
Beacon Hill
	-proximity to MIT -access to public transit -safety -access to amenities of life in Boston -old Boston atmosphere	-very high rents -residential parking sticker program -lack of parking -smaller size units -high rate of condo conversion
Belmont
	-quality of housing -safety -suburban residential environment -access to public transit -good school system	-distance from MIT -no overnight street parking
Brookline
	-access to public transit -quality of housing -safety -small-town residential environment -good school system -good public services	-distance from MIT -high rents -no overnight street parking
Cambridge (eastern)
	-proximity to MIT	-quality of housing -safety -residential parking sticker program
Cambridge (mid & western)
	-proximity to MIT -access to public transit -residential environment	-high rents -residential parking sticker program -safety
Fenway/Kenmore
	-proximity to MIT -access to public transit -proximity to cultural & entertainment facilities	-high rents -safety -residential parking sticker program -lack of parking
Somerville
	-access to public transit -residential environment	-distance from MIT -quality of housing -residential parking sticker program
Watertown
	-quality of housing -safety -suburban residential environment -good school system	-distance from MIT