My son will be working on Cambridge Street, near the Government Center in downtown Boston. City living is expensive. Where would be an easy public transportation commute to that area?
My S lives in Boston (Brighton) as he was communting to Framingham and he had to drive so being near 90 was important. Now he is working in downtown Boston and can take the T, but it does take quite a while to get there. He has a 2 bedroom (with a roommate) for $2k/month. Both he and his roommate want to be closer to work downtown so just rented a 3 bedroom in South Boston for $3900. They have a 3 person who will be moving in. 15 minute bus ride to his office and it’s also an easy bike ride -which he plans to do in good weather.
Truthfully, I don’t think your S will be happy living in a suburb. All the young people live in Boston.
It depends what you mean by Boston. Somerville, for example.
Natick and Framingham would be lower cost suburban options. The T commuter trains run there.
I would suggest he try on the red line in Quincy or the Orange line out by Jackson Square or further towards Forest Hills. These locations are not suburbs but farther out on the T line so that rents are more reasonable. That being said, he may still want to get a couple of roommates to make it more cost-effective.
I don’t recommend Framingham or Natick as those commuter rails do not go into North Station, which is the closest station to Government Center. Easily would be an hour plus commute. I’d suggest he stick to locations accessible by the T - Somerville, Medford, Arlington, etc. Still not going to be cheap, but better than downtown.
Areas I would look at are Somerville, Cambridge (expensive), and Jamaica Plain.
Malden on the Orange line. Not a hip area but safe and (relatively) inexpensive.
Somerville, Cambridge or any safe area of Boston is going to VERY expensive. The OP is looking for less expensive areas.
East Arlington (on the Red Line to Govt Ctr) might be a possibility. If he is willing to live with roommates, he might get cheaper rentals in the city–places like South Boston or the Fenway area. He should look at Craig’s list. What can he pay and when is he starting?
Will your son own a car that needs to be parked? Can he drive to the T?
Areas on the T lines
Porter and Davis Square are popular with my kids and their friends. These hover the Cambridge/Somerville line
East Cambridge is not that expensive and he can even walk into Boston on a nice day, or take the Green line 4 stops from Lechmere station
Malden is less expensive and much less hip, but great deals can be had near the orange line
Ten Hills area of Somerville is nice and yet mostly undiscovered plus you can walk to the new Assembly station on the Orange Line
East Somerville has some good deals and you can walk to the Sullivan Square Orange Line station
Orient Heights and Wood Island stops on the Blue line in East Boston have some pretty nice surrounding areas and are not that expensive.
There are commuter lines from the Northern and Northwestern suburbs that have trains into North Station.
He’ll be starting around July 1.
This link has a “T” map that will be helpful (Note - DS says the green line is the oldest/slowest). There are buses that sometimes work better.
http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/
@ClassicRockerDad has some good suggestions. What does your son consider expensive? Is he looking to live alone or with roommates? My son pays $840/month in Boston, shared with 3 others. They all have their own bedroom. I am not enamoured of the building but the location is good for him. It is near Longwood Medical area, Northeastern, …I would call it more of a student type of apartment but all his roommates are out of college and working.
Also keep in mind commuter rail is not cheap. Will his employer subsidize a T pass? A zone 5 pass, for example, to Framingham is nearly $300/month
(@Bromfield2 red line doesn’t stop at govt ctr 
but for Cambridge St one could get off at Charles/MGH. )
I live in the Boston area.
He might want to investigate Waltham - he could easily take the commuter rail from there to North Station.
However, I’ve researched living further out for cheaper apartments (in response to a similar thread plus I have a daughter who has now been living in Boston for four years).
It is a huge hassle to commute from further out, and the rents are not necessarily that much cheaper.
I agree with emilybee - your son will be happier living in Boston, and should expect to live with roommates in any case.
Cheapest rents are probably in the Allston / Brighton area. With some looking, he may find a place where his share of the rent will be around $850. He should be able to find a place pretty easily if he can pay $1100 for his share of the rent.
Look at Roslindale, Dorchester, and Jamaica Plain - all are neighborhoods of Boston, and all are situated w easy access to public transportation (MBTA). I would definitely NOT recommend that a young adult live in a distant suburb such as Natick or Framingham. If your son finds roommates, as most young adults in Boston will do, he will be able to make this work and enjoy all that the city has to offer!
Jamaica Plain is now quite “in” so I am not sure it will be cheaper, but Dorchester may well be…
How about Quincy?
Dorchester has some deals but they tend to be share situations.
The reality is that young people just out of college who live in cities can only afford to do so by sharing apartments. City rents are just too expensive - even when not living in the hot spots.
Quincy and Watertown are a bit of a schlep…but might be more affordable.
MIGHT BE.
Honestly…what will his work hours be? Will he want to socialize in Boston? If so…living far afield might not be worth it.