1 is Hoboken, New Jersey - just outside of New York CIty.
It is basically a bedroom community for young poeple who work in the city. It is also the home of Stevens Institute of Technology.
Somerville’s population started to change when the subway (Red Line) was extended form Harvard Square to Davis Square in the '80’s. The change accelerated when Cambridge eliminated rent control in the '90’s, effectively driving out the artists and some of the young people.
Now Somerville is getting more expensive and work has begun on extending the subway (Green Line) through Somerville to the Medford side of Tufts. It will be interesting to see what impact that has on Medford, but it won’t be in place in time for this year’s applicants.