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Somerville The City of Somerville is located three miles from Boston and adjacent to Cambridge. Somerville comprises Cambridge's entire northeastern border. This predominantly working class community is bordered by Arlington to the west, Medford to the north, Everett and Charlestown to the east and Cambridge to the south. Somerville is built on seven hills around seven squares and occupies an area of approximately four square miles. It is the most densely populated town in Middlesex County. This high population density makes Somerville an extremely urban suburb. Western Somerville contains higher quality housing than the eastern portion of the city, which is more densely populated. Two to three family houses are the predominate type of housing stock with larger units (usually two bedrooms or more) most commonly available on the rental market. Much of Somerville's housing is owner-occupied. While most of the housing was constructed before 1939, it is generally structurally sound. The condition and the quality of the housing stock is variable; very well-kept units are available along with units in considerable disrepair. Somerville's numerous squares offer a variety of shopping options. For a suburb, Somerville is well served by public transit. Numerous bus routes are available. Sullivan Square, just over the Somerville border in Everett, offers access to the orange line while Lechmere, just over the southeastern border in Cambridge, offers access to the green line. The Davis Square red line station (in western Somerville) and the Porter Square red line station (just over the Cambridge border) provide access to the red line. Furthermore, Harvard Square is within a 30 minute walk of much of central Somerville. MIT is not within walking distance of Somerville although it is an easy bicycle ride to campus from most of the area. One relatively easy way to MIT is to walk or take a bus to Harvard Square and then take the #1 Dudley bus to campus or the red line to Kendall Square. Buses also run from Somerville directly to Central Square, leaving approximately a 15 minute walk down Massachusetts Avenue to MIT. The #85 Spring Hill bus provides direct access to Kendall Square. If you live in Somerville, you should probably consider purchasing a local T bus pass. Somerville has a residential parking sticker program throughout the city. Though a residential parking sticker will be required for most on-street parking, the majority of housing units in Somerville offer ample off-street parking. Be sure to check about the availability of parking if you rent in Somerville. Somerville crime problems are no greater than (in fact they may be less than) those of the neighboring cities of Boston and Cambridge. Its urban character subjects it to many of the problems of city life. The western part of the city is generally safer than its densely populated eastern section. The Union Square area and the east Cambridge and Charlestown borders tend to be less desirable in terms of safety. Due to the working class residential character of some of the neighborhoods, Somerville's streets may be fairly deserted by the evening hours. You should exercise caution when walking after dark. This area also has a high incidence of automobile and bicycle theft, with the victims often unaware students. Be sure to secure your vehicles. The Somerville Police Department conducts home security checks upon request as a precaution against break-ins. The key is common sense, awareness and preventative measures. Be sure to read the security and safety portion of this guide for important information on these topics. Rents in Somerville are slightly lower than those elsewhere in the Boston/Cambridge area. Somerville's relatively old housing stock and the predominance of two and three family structures result in an extremely high proportion of units not including the cost of heat. Be sure to consider heating costs as these older, larger structures tend to be far less energy efficient. Somerville can provide a pleasant residential environment as long as you are aware of its potential for the city problems of safety and security. If you are willing to travel a little further to MIT Somerville provides an attractive, more affordable housing option. If you are interested in living in Somerville, the Off-Campus Housing Service has maps of the city available.
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