Sonagi

I read the Moving to Boston thread. I know the cost of living is high, especially for housing. I live a simple life - no cable, rarely eat out, walk to save gas, so I think I can live on a teacher's salary, but becoming a home owner is an important goal. I understand that Boston's housing market is very inflated, so I'm hoping there'll be a break by the time I actually start house shopping although I hope a burst of the housing bubble doesn't cause the area too much economic grief.

I am a teacher in Illinois. I like my job very much, but I do not like living in the midwest and would like to relocate to the northeast. I've visited Boston and like what the city has to offer its residents. Checking the website of Boston Public Schools, I found still open positions in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. How serious is the problem of school violence, especially in these neighborhoods? The website admits that 50% of BPS teachers quit within five years. Is it a bad school system overall or are there tough schools within the district? How much should I expect to pay for a tiny 2 bedroom home?