[MrFoof]

So here's the results[1] from Zillow for a 2BR for $2500 or less in an actual Boston zipcode. These aren't all the results, as it limits the results to 500. If you're not looking for a managed, new luxury apartment, it's tremendously easy to find.

Moreover, if you go on Craigslist, you'll find far, far more. Zillow listings are almost always represented by a realtor, broker or property management company so it's only a subset of the market.

[1]http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_rent/Boston-MA/house,condo,a...

[BWStearns]

They're mostly in Brighton and way deep Dorchester. The commonwealth ave one is as ridiculous as the same price being advertised for a real 2br in a doorman building in Chelsea. This is akin to measuring salaries by the high end of glass door. Sure. Someone may have gotten that price, or it could be a lie, but you won't.

[meddlepal]

Yep, flawed study. The stuff in Brighton, deep Dorchester, Hyde Park and Roxbury should be thrown out since a lot of it is very much not TOD and you'd barely know you were living in Boston.

[arkwar]

That is pretty ludicrous - Dorchester makes up nearly 1/4 of the city's entire population and is by far the largest neighborhood land area wise. Plus it has the red line, high speed line, and commuter rail/fairmont line. Same goes for the rest of the neighborhoods like Rozzie, Westie, Hyde Park - the two families are three deckers are as 'Boston' as any Brownstone in the Backbay or South End.

[BWStearns]

What is TOD btw? I think I agree with you but I'm curious about the term.

[jeffwilcox]

Transit-oriented development - built along trams/metro/rapid bus cooridors