Oops, I gotta go. But a friend of mine briefly dated this guy, and she decided to stop seeing him because she couldn't get past the fact that this guy has never lived outside of his parents' house....

I think it's fairly odd, in this day and age, but would reconsider depending on the situation.

Where else should I live that is fairly cheap, on the subway, and not Davis/Porter?

Can I put in a vote for Medford/Malden/Melrose? (That's where I grew up, and where it'd be easier for me to visit you when I'm home for the holidays!)

Those places don't seem very...urban.

My friend Didi lived in a fabulous duplex in Watertown, which was a shortish walk to (I think) the Davis Square stop and thus 10 minutes away from Harvard Square.

Well, you didn't mention that! But they are "fairly cheap, on the subway and not Davis/Porter". :-D

my particular job does have certain skill set requirements (even compared to other people with this job title at this company) that makes our pay somewhat laughable, especially given the location. If I'm a valued employee, I think they should feel concerned if almost any other corporate job I took in this area would beat my current salary.

I mean, I started on the higher end of the scale and it would take me 10 years of 5% raises to reach median income. Interns at my former housemate's company make my salary.

I'm not saying you don't deserve more money. I just know based on my experience (both as an employee and employer) that when we would determine fair salaries, we looked at our industry, the skills required, the experience level required, and the education level required and balanced those with going market rate for similar jobs in our area.

Median income is based on all incomes in the area, not incomes for that particular job in our industry.

Again, if you are underpaid for your job, get proof through professional associations. If you can prove you are underpaid, they may look at a raise. If they don't, it may be time to look elsewhere.

How weird is it for a guy who's in his mid-50s to have lived with his parents his whole life?

It's a huge red flag for me.

My friend Didi lived in a fabulous duplex in Watertown, which was a shortish walk to (I think) the Davis Square stop and thus 10 minutes away from Harvard Square.

Really? That sounds unlikely -- but I don't actually know where Watertown starts. I wanna live in Boston!! But for cheap, which I know is basically impossible.

Oops, sorry about the Davis Square when you asked NOT to be there--but her neighborhood felt very Cantabrigian, if you know what I mean. What about the partsof Allston closer to Brookline? On the T, plus less students.

I'm scared of the students!