Mid 40s Fit Single Professional - Neighborhoods? (Boston, Cambridge: to buy, living in)

[dave2112]

Wow, thanks everyone for the quick and helpful responses. What a great community!

I'm going to visit Arlington, Somerville, and 3rd Ave Burlington over the next couple of weekends.

I'm going to give Burlington more grace here ... as a busy professional guy in his 40's, I might reconsider the need to be in the middle of the action 7 nights a week. I currently live smack in the middle of downtown Portsmouth - (an incredibly walkable, happening place, with stuff going on every night) - but I honestly only get out 2/3 nights a week. Do I really want to pay $3K to live in a shoebox in Cambridge?

The other place on my mind is Waltham. There are beautiful brick lofts on the river, but it seems awkward to get to the actual downtown from 95. I drove down the well-known Moody Street strip yesterday and it looked pretty grim and deserted (although maybe that was because the overcast weather and fierce winds made everyone stay home). Anyone have familiarity with the 'nicer' parts of Waltham?

I think Salem would actually be the place I'd enjoy the most .. it's equal parts beautiful and gritty, has high and low culture, a fabulous museum, nightlife, and is inexpensive ... but the commute is a total non-starter - 90 minutes of stop/start each way every day. Ugh. What a pity.

[jan0105]

I was going to suggest Waltham. I absolutely love Arlington but I think of it as pretty family-centric.

[timberline742]

You don't have to pay anything like $3k to live in the heart of the action, seriously. People really over state things. Look at some of the listing from the real estate companies for area rentals. Plenty available for under $2k.

And as a mid 40s professional who is single, heck yeah you want to be in the middle of things!

[riblue]

I lived in Arlington for a few years in my mid 40's and single and liked it but it is very family oriented. There are restaurants but no nightlife. It is close to Somerville and Cambridge though. Waltham would be a good fit, nice older buildings, a real downtown and a lively social scene. Have fun exploring.

[tysmith95]

I could see downtown Waltham getting a lot more vibrant in the next few years. There is a 300 unit luxury apartment complex being built on the corner of Moody Street and Main Street that will have ground floor retail. Also there is another 200+ unit complex being built off of Pine Street where a bunch of warehouses currently sit. With all of the new development going on it will hopefully relativize pedestrian traffic. Waltham does have a lot of great restaurants and a few bars downtown, while it's not a destination like Salem it's still a great option that is continually improving. Traffic on Main Street can be horrible though but that's the downside to urban areas.

[pennyone]

Don't even know why anyone would bring up Arlington in this case. It's heavily little kids oriented and would be akin to a slow death for a single guy of any age. Waltham and definitely Somerville if you really want to be in the midst of vibrant life. Adults with kids become consumed by their kids, and though unintentional, they become a real bore to the rest of us.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by pennyone

Don't even know why anyone would bring up Arlington in this case. It's heavily little kids oriented and would be akin to a slow death for a single guy of any age. Waltham and definitely Somerville if you really want to be in the midst of vibrant life. Adults with kids become consumed by their kids, and though unintentional, they become a real bore to the rest of us.

I knew a couple of no-kid couples who lived in Arlington (they were Harvard grad students / post docs), but your assessment of Arlington not being great for a single guy who enjoys going out is pretty accurate. They were definitely people who enjoyed their work and wanted somewhere quieter. Stretch your budget if need be and try for Cambridge or Somerville.

And I'm not sure why the needless dig at parents.

[timberline742]

I know more than a few single late 30s and 40s adults in Arlington, they like it. Somerville and Cambridge are right there, and their home life is just a little mellower. It's the access.

But I would stick to North Cambridge or Somerville.

[pennyone]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

I knew a couple of no-kid couples who lived in Arlington (they were Harvard grad students / post docs), but your assessment of Arlington not being great for a single guy who enjoys going out is pretty accurate. They were definitely people who enjoyed their work and wanted somewhere quieter. Stretch your budget if need be and try for Cambridge or Somerville.

And I'm not sure why the needless dig at parents.

Don't be so sensitive. I said unintentional. They are a real bore when all they talk about is little Johnny or Buffy's play dates. Not a dig, just real life. That's why parents hang out with parents. And childless couples like us hang out with non-parents. Now is someone going to call me a "racist" against parents ?

[BostonMike7]

For the most part you are going to be intermixed with families and young people in any of the areas you look unless you go into actual Boston.


Burlington has a decent corporate vibe around the mall area, and during the day and dinner it's packed with 30's and 40's professionals. Nighttime it can be a mix, depending on the time of the year. Middlesex Tpk seems to be a lively area, but away from there it's mostly families.


Somerville is a younger crowd in general. I've been out at a few bars in that area, and even in mid 30's I sometimes feel a bit old. I'm not saying it doesn't exist, and would think Cambridge/Somerville would be the closest thing to what you are looking for near Boston. Arlington might be geared a bit more towards families IMHO.