Beacon Street (east of Massachusetts Ave.) is a nice place to live, if you can stand the price. It’s generally safe and quiet, with easy access to public transportation, parks, and a variety of amenities. Most of the residents are students, couples with young children, or older people. The area is popular with pet owners: many of the buildings allow pets and you often see people walking dogs along this street.

This is a very picturesque street. The buildings are quite old, and their gardens are well-maintained. It’s especially beautiful in the spring, when the trees start to flower. Many of the buildings on the north side of the street look out over the Charles River.

Most of the nearby shops and restaurants are upscale and very expensive (and, some might say, a bit pretentious). Although hair salons, clothing boutiques, and wine cellars are plentiful, it can be hard to find basic household items like linens and kitchenware for reasonable prices.

The rents in this area are quite high. Some of the buildings are not in great shape due to their age, and pests (insects and mice) are a problem. Parking along Beacon Street is very limited, but the area is well-served by buses and the green line of the T.