Where to Live: Working in Woonsocket, RI & Cambridge, MA (Boston: apartments, home)

[ilovenycandtheusa]

Hello!

I am part of a couple. One party will work in Woonsocket, RI and the other in Cambridge, MA.

We are young and used to city living and have lived in the NYC metro area for many years.

Where should we live in RI or MA where we can have access to big city living, nice, modern, spacious apartments, and other useful amenities.

While not crucial, we do like waterfront living.

We do not have to live in the big city proper, just have reasonable access to it. For example, we currently live in a waterfront NJ suburb that is part of the NYC metro and about a thirty minute drive from midtown Manhattan. We like this approach as we are still close to and part of the big city, but come home to a quite, modern environment with lower cost of living and more spacious apartments. In essence, we have the best of both worlds. We would like to replicate this when we move to RI/MA.

Key concerns are: quality of life, amenities, access to the city and reasonable commute for both parties

So what do you wise folks recommend?

Thanks so much!

[Dm84]

Unfortunately one of you is going to have a poor commute.

The easiest thing to do is live along I-95 in Southeastern Massachusetts. That would be a relatively short drive to Woonsocket. Unfortunately the commute to Cambridge is poor. You could take commuter rail from one of the stations along the Providence line to South Station and then switch to the Red Line. Easily a 90 minute commute each way, and that's assuming the person works close to a T station and nothing goes wrong.

Option 2 is you live in Providence itself. Still an easy commute to Woonsocket, but a horrible commute to Cambridge.

Option 3 is you live closer to Boston metro (inside the 128 belt). It's a reverse commute to Woonsocket but a fairly long drive (figure an hour each way at a minimum).

Word of caution- apartments here are generally on the smaller side and no frills.

[ormari]

Originally Posted by Dm84

Unfortunately one of you is going to have a poor commute.

The easiest thing to do is live along I-95 in Southeastern Massachusetts. That would be a relatively short drive to Woonsocket. Unfortunately the commute to Cambridge is poor. You could take commuter rail from one of the stations along the Providence line to South Station and then switch to the Red Line. Easily a 90 minute commute each way, and that's assuming the person works close to a T station and nothing goes wrong.

Option 2 is you live in Providence itself. Still an easy commute to Woonsocket, but a horrible commute to Cambridge.

Option 3 is you live closer to Boston metro (inside the 128 belt). It's a reverse commute to Woonsocket but a fairly long drive (figure an hour each way at a minimum).

Word of caution- apartments here are generally on the smaller side and no frills.

Dm84, do you mean along I-495?

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by ormari

Dm84, do you mean along I-495?

Near where 495 and 95 meet.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by Dm84

Near where 495 and 95 meet.

Like Mansfield. They could take the train from Mansfield.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

Like Mansfield. They could take the train from Mansfield.

Yes. As I said, that's a minimum 90 minute commute each way to Cambridge.

[ilovenycandtheusa]

Any more ideas?

I would like to live somewhere, where the party going to Cambridge (Kendall/MIT) could go by subway and the party going to CVS, Woonsockett could drive with a commute (approximately 30-45 min, but no more than 60min each way).

Thanks!

[Flashpoint922]

Maybe Braintree? Still 45 min at least to Cambridge on the Red Line subway. Traffic included to Woonsocket would probably be just under an hour. You'd be right by the subway into town though...

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint922

Maybe Braintree? Still 45 min at least to Cambridge on the Red Line subway. Traffic included to Woonsocket would probably be just under an hour. You'd be right by the subway into town though...

Yes, 45 minutes assuming they lived and worked next door to the Red line. The local traffic in Braintree during rush hour will probably bump the ride to Woonsocket up over an hour.

OP - the distances between Cambridge and Woonsocket make what you want almost impossible. The Braintree solution is probably the closest solution you'll find.

[ilovenycandtheusa]

Is Braintree a better option than Quincy?

What's the dynamic of the neighborhood in Quincy?

Originally Posted by Dm84

Yes, 45 minutes assuming they lived and worked next door to the Red line. The local traffic in Braintree during rush hour will probably bump the ride to Woonsocket up over an hour.

OP - the distances between Cambridge and Woonsocket make what you want almost impossible. The Braintree solution is probably the closest solution you'll find.