Living in East Boston, Eastie Pros and Considerations

Check out the blog for more information on East Boston! (breakingdownbostonmass.wordpr...)
This guide provides a quick overview of living in the Boston neighborhood of East Boston ("Eastie"), Massachusetts.
Please let me know if you have any questions about living in East Boston. If you are familiar with East Boston, please let me know if I missed any important aspect if living in the neighborhood.

[@DiMac43]

I lived in Eastie back in 2001 when I was doing my undergrad at Berklee College of Music and it had its challenges. Nobody wanted to come visit me since I lived in Meridian Street and parking was a hassle. Plus, they didn't want to deal with tunnel traffic. What I liked about living these was how close it is to beautiful Winthrop and the beaches. I would hop on the Blue Line to Revere Beach quite often. Also, there were buses that would run up and down Meridian into Maverick Station so I got a combo pass. However, trying to get onto a train at Maverick was crazy. The cars were always packed and sometimes I had to wait for several trains to come before I could squeeze onto the train. Changing trains in Boston is so easy so I didn't mind going from Blue, to Orange, to Red Lines if needed. I don't live in MA anymore but have great memories of my time in Eastie.

[@me_stars3549]

I lived in Jeffries Point the last couple of years, and surprisingly, noise from the planes isn’t too bad. You hear them sometimes, but it isn’t as annoying as you may think. But there are specific locations further north (closer to Chelsea & around Constitution Beach) where I noticed that the sound is much more significant.

[@link0612]

One thing to note for newcomers is that Central Square has a lot of the shopping, restaurants, and bars. Eastie is a little unique in that the main business area isn't directly on the T. I've met a lot of new folks to the neighborhood who think since Maverick Square is relatively empty they have to go downtown for coffee and groceries and nightlife, and haven't bothered to walk the extra 10 minutes up Meridian St

[@bradleybrown9285]

There is a Shaw’s in East Boston!

[@BreakingDownBoston]

You’re totally right! Could be wrong, but I’m thinking it would be a bit of a hike from Jeffries Point or Maverick Square if you did not have a car and had to carry groceries.

[@ed4409]

​@@BreakingDownBoston I came to say that Shaw's and Star Market are the same company and that Albertsons is their parent 😂

[@me_stars3549]

@@BreakingDownBoston i’d say its walking distance to Shaws from Jeffries Point. Its even closer from Maverick Square

[@lo480]

Is it convenient enough to commute to Harvard? Around 3 days a week.

[@BreakingDownBoston]

You will have to change train lines twice in this commute. Not as easy as some others, and will definitely add time, but it’s doable if you set the right expectations!

[@me_stars3549]

I’d say so. You hop on Blue Line, then switch to Red Line once you’re in the city. It takes around 45mins.

[@cod1985]

It is beauty but if u want to go by bike to downtown is a big problem if u don't want to use the commute!

[@keeppunchin2302]

Isn’t there a lot of crime?

[@BreakingDownBoston]

Not in my experience.

[@RusticPickle24]

Very late to this but for future viewers. I bought a house here in 2020 and haven't experienced any crime. Way better than south end or back bay where there's a ton of homeless people