Commute Questions (Boston, Cambridge, Newton: rent , job, home)

[spacemonkey701]

Hi,

I'm considering doing a reverse commute from the Boston area out to Westborough for my new job. I'm considering living in West Newton, Watertown, Cambridge or JP. JP looks to be the furthest right now at about 28 miles, but it may be a good fit for what I'm looking for. My job in Westborough is right off the Mass pike so for all of the areas I'm looking at it would be mostly highway driving against traffic. Can anyone give me a realistic idea of how long that would take? I've heard the reverse commute isn't that bad and I'm hoping to have 35 - 45 minutes of commute tops.

Thanks

[Bostonian08]

Yo've got it figured about right. JP would be the hardest because JP has no easy highway access - you have to add 20 minutes best case just to get to the highway. If you leave during the AM rush, it could be a lot longer.

Alewife or memorial Drive section of Cambridge would be no problem. If you do east of Mass Ave or Harvard Sq you will get stuck in Cambridge traffic.

West Newton or Watertown would be ideal for commuting.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by Bostonian08

Yo've got it figured about right. JP would be the hardest because JP has no easy highway access - you have to add 20 minutes best case just to get to the highway. If you leave during the AM rush, it could be a lot longer.

Alewife or memorial Drive section of Cambridge would be no problem. If you do east of Mass Ave or Harvard Sq you will get stuck in Cambridge traffic.

West Newton or Watertown would be ideal for commuting.

I agree 100% with all of this except Alewife. That area gets pretty backed up and there is a long and meandering path to the Mass Pike, unless you take Route 2 out to 128, which seems to be the long way. And 128 is not fun either.

West Newton and Watertown would be ideal. Or Newton Corner near Exit 17

[spacemonkey701]

Thanks all for your replies. So my next question is if we do West Newton or Watertown, how hard or easy is it to get around without a car? My wife would be at home with a baby while I'm working out in the middle of nowhere so I want to be someplace central enough that she can get around by public transportation easily with a stroller, etc... I've also heard that Back Bay is central in terms of being in the city and has easy access to the pike, though it seems like it is pricier. Thoughts?

[Bostonian08]

Originally Posted by spacemonkey701

Thanks all for your replies. So my next question is if we do West Newton or Watertown, how hard or easy is it to get around without a car? My wife would be at home with a baby while I'm working out in the middle of nowhere so I want to be someplace central enough that she can get around by public transportation easily with a stroller, etc... I've also heard that Back Bay is central in terms of being in the city and has easy access to the pike, though it seems like it is pricier. Thoughts?

Back Bay is THE heart of the city. BB does have easy access to the pike, only issue being there may be a jam long before you get to Newton. I've lived in Downtown for 15 years and have found commuting out of town to almost always be no big deal. That and adding 10 miles to the commute, but that's nbd.

Going the opposite way of traffic I always see the jam on the other side and think what the hell are these people thinking? And yes, BB costs $$$$. You'll need @ 2G for a 2bdrm.

I know Newton has the Green Line, maybe more than one. Not sure about Watertown.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by Bostonian08

Back Bay is THE heart of the city. BB does have easy access to the pike, only issue being there may be a jam long before you get to Newton. I've lived in Downtown for 15 years and have found commuting out of town to almost always be no big deal. That and adding 10 miles to the commute, but that's nbd.

Going the opposite way of traffic I always see the jam on the other side and think what the hell are these people thinking? And yes, BB costs $$$$. You'll need @ 2G for a 2bdrm.

I know Newton has the Green Line, maybe more than one. Not sure about Watertown.

Watertown has a number of buses but I think you'd want another car there. Newton also, really. Newton has the Green line D (the B and C stop right at its border more or less), and the D is good, if a bit slow, for going into town but not as great for stuff like getting groceries. The D line goes through many Newton neighborhoods but not all that close to West Newton. West Newton does have the commuter rail (quick to Back Bay and South Stations) and a nice walkable stretch with shops, etc. along Watertown St (Rt 16) but otherwise you're pretty limited without a car there.

The Back Bay is central all right, but it's very pricy and very urban. On top of rent, you need to worry about parking, which is not easy unless you have a spot with an apt (thus higher rent) or rent one in a lot/garage.

You might want to look near Central Sq. in Cambridge, which is urban and somewhat expensive but less of each than the Back Bay. Western Ave takes you right to the Mass. Pike. Central is a great location for getting around without a car, and very easy to get to the city from.

[synaesthetist]

I agree that Central is good as far as getting the Mass Pike. I might say that if you're not familiar with the area, you should be aware that Central Sq. is full of homeless people because of a nearby shelter (or maybe it's a veteran's home? I'm not sure, but it's something along those lines). I lived in Central when I was 21 and although I loved it because of it's nightlife, crazy atmosphere and location, I don't think I'd want to live there as a mother with a baby. I was constantly hit on and was followed home on one occasion and there's occasionally a bit of crime - not uncommon for a city but it's far worse than West Newton. Watertown I'm not sure about, but I'd guess that it's tamer than Central Sq.

About a 10 minute walk from Central is Inman Sq. Inman is really nice, is full of little shops and even has a really awesome toy store. When I lived in Inman for a summer, I saw way more moms + strollers than I ever saw in Central. It's also just as close to Harvard Sq. as Central is if you cut down Cambridge St. rather than Mass Ave (easily walkable - I walked to work every day when I had a job in Harvard Sq.). Inman is served by buses which I've definitely seen strollers on but, like I said, if you want a train Central Sq. on the red line is just about a 10 minute walk away.

[spacemonkey701]

Thanks! Yeah my wife actually lived and worked in Boston a few years ago. She's a social worker and her office was right in central square so she knows how that scene goes. Inman square sounds nice too. I've also been looking in Brookline as well. The Coolidge corner area seems really nice and looks like it has relatively easy access to the pike. I think our choice will all come down to $$$. Higher rent in the city w one car vs. lower rent in the burbs w 2 cars. We'll have to see how much lower we can get the rent and still be happy vs just being in the city and not worrying about 2 cars. Thanks everyone!