Arlington vs Lexington where would you move? (Boston, Newton: rental, work)

[applejuice]

We are moving to Boston from Georgia and I am trying to decide which area would be best. We are going to rent for at least a year. We are hoping for a 1 bedroom for less then 1300 but would prefer 2 bedrooms.

I want to be no more then 30minutes on the T to downtown Boston, but we have a little one and prefer the burbs. I want to be near a good church preschool and good Christian school. However, he will most likely go to public school for the first three years.

Lexington sounds great..but it is pricey but we have family that lives there. Arlington is closer to downtown and closer to the T.

Anyhow, any pros or cons to each area, etc., would be appreciated!

Thanks

[MovingForward]

I live in Arlington and love it. It's also an easier commute on the T than from Lexington.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by applejuice

I want to be no more then 30minutes on the T to downtown Boston, but we have a little one and prefer the burbs. I want to be near a good church preschool and good Christian school. However, he will most likely go to public school for the first three years.

If you want under 30 mins to Boston by T, don't live in Lexington. There is no commuter rail station and the Red line ends way before that. So you're facing a drive or bus to the commuter rail in another town (which would go into North Station, generally less convenient for downtown commutes than South Station), or to Alewife for the T (but the garage there, $5 a day, fills up early at times). Arlington is even tough for a 30-minute ride. You have to drive, take the bus, or (if you're in the very SE corner, the most urban part) walk to Alewife and it's 25 mins from there.

Both towns are nice. Arlington is more densely filled in but has some beautiful blocks and a nice stretch of downtown along Mass. Av. Lexington is more woodsy. I guess by reputation the Lexington schools are better regarded, but I did more than fine in the Arlington schools.

1300 for 2 BRs is tough, but you might find something in Arlington. You might also want to look along Belmont St and Trapelo Rd in Belmont. Belmont has good schools and has two commuter rail stops to North Station (under 20 mins but limited parking). There is also the 73 bus to Harvard Sq, where you could get the red line. Another possibility is by West Newton and Auburndale in Newton, which have commuter rail going to South Station, and are close to Lexington via Route 128.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by applejuice

We are moving to Boston from Georgia and I am trying to decide which area would be best. We are going to rent for at least a year. We are hoping for a 1 bedroom for less then 1300 but would prefer 2 bedrooms.

I want to be no more then 30minutes on the T to downtown Boston, but we have a little one and prefer the burbs. I want to be near a good church preschool and good Christian school. However, he will most likely go to public school for the first three years.

Lexington sounds great..but it is pricey but we have family that lives there. Arlington is closer to downtown and closer to the T.

Anyhow, any pros or cons to each area, etc., would be appreciated!

Thanks

You could consider Belmont, too. You can find a rental in that price range on the southern part of the town, which is right near the 73 bus line. It's about 40 minutes or so to south station--with a transfer at Harvard--but the frequency is great. I don't know about good Christian schools in the area, but the Belmont public schools have a good reputation. Arlington and Lexington are both good choices, too, just thought it might be easier to find something right if you had more choices.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by holden125

You might also want to look along Belmont St and Trapelo Rd in Belmont. Belmont has good schools and has two commuter rail stops to North Station (under 20 mins but limited parking). There is also the 73 bus to Harvard Sq, where you could get the red line.

I second Belmont along the 73 bus though that would be 40 mins as jayrandom says. That bus's western end is Waverley station on the commuter rail. Belmont Center is not along the 73 but also has commuter rail with a quick ride to N. Station. The commuter rail is quick to North Station, but you'd probably have an extra 10+ mins from there to work.