Living in Allston: Tips from a BUSSW Student
By Isabella N. (MSW’24)
If you’re new to Boston, it can be challenging to know the best neighborhoods for apartments outside of Boston University (BU) campus housing. I’d like to share my journey of finding an apartment and what I learned along the way to help you find your new Boston home.
Finding an Allston Apartment
I began my research by looking at neighborhoods that were close to public transportation and campus, and that had things to do nearby. First, I looked at the information BU sent out in the summer with information on different Boston neighborhoods. After doing more research, I found that Allston had an easy commute, housed a lot of other BU students, and had many different restaurants and grocery stores for day-to-day living. There were also a lot of apartments available, and I found one next to the Green Line, which I take to campus. I have also found many other classmates who live in the neighborhood or very nearby, which makes getting together easy.
Settling into the Neighborhood
Allston really made me feel like a part of the community as soon as I moved in. I went to the Allston-Brighton Parade, which was a very nice experience of community and celebration. I also found Facebook pages that helped me learn more about the neighborhood, and some that even give things away to neighbors for free. If you’re not on Facebook, there are other ways to get to know the community. On move in day (Sept 1st) many people leave furniture and items they want to give away in the front of their apartments for others to take what they need. This is locally known as “Allston Christmas.” I also received flyers for a neighborhood event to celebrate Allston Christmas and those moving into the neighborhood.
I have been glad to find a neighborhood that has such life and community. There are a ton of pizza places nearby, and parks like Ringer Playground in the neighborhood that many people use to walk the trail, organize, and have different meet-ups.
Things to Consider
The only cons I can think of for this neighborhood are the noises that living near a train brings. Although, this inconvenience just takes some getting used to and may not be a problem for those coming from other cities. Even so, I strongly recommend living in Allston or nearby as I have had great experiences. But if you’re looking for other options, I recommend checking out BU Today’s “Getting to Know Your Neighborhood” collection.
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Isabella N. (MSW’24) is a first year clinical student at Boston University School of Social Work’s Charles River Campus. In her free time, she likes to read, watch Netflix, and explore the city.