Cambridge vs. Somerville vs. Charlestown vs. NorthEnd

[Secchamps98]

so...davis sq. in somerville or porter sq. in cambridge. lots of middle aged folks....that might be good....are there many ships and cafes, groceries or gyms?

[TheJickler]

Well, I don't live there, but I've visited a few times. There is a gym (Boston Sports Club) right next to the Davis T stop. I hope to move to the area soon so I've been taking a look around. There are some restaurants, a movie theater, and a few ice cream places right there as well.

[chumlyb]

Between Davis and Porter Squares there are loads of cafes, pubs, restaurants, etc. There's a great movie theatre in Davis Square, the supermarket is in Porter Square, and the big used bookstore that was in Davis just moved to Porter Square. The gym in Davis is brand new, there's a popular women's gym (Healthworks) in Porter plus a coed gym. Both squares are stops on the Red Line subway and the train that goes directly to Boston also stop in Porter. You're definitely on the right side of the city to commute to Burlington by car.

Years ago Utne Reader magazine named Davis Square one the 10 or so "hippest places" to live in the US. I thought it was a stretch at the time - it was probably close to 15 years ago - but it's been trending in that direction ever since. It's about a ten minute walk between Porter and Davis.

In regards to Arlington - it's definitely got a lot more going on nowadays. Arlington changed the laws regulating the sale of alcohol in small restaurants within the last 10 years or so and really changed for the better - lots of small restaurants opened up on Mass Avenue (the main street that runs from Boston to Cambridge to Arlington and beyond) and some fun shops followed. It's become a very popular place for families with young kids in large part because some of the schools have done very well on the state standardized tests. It can seem a bit quiet to some - definitely not as much going on as Cambridge / Somerville and there are plenty of areas where you won't be able to walk to much.
Once you visit you'll start to get a better sense of which town and neighborhood feels right to you. I work as a real estate agent in Cambridge and right now the real estate inventory is a bit low since we're just coming out of the holidays. That should change as it gets closer to spring. When you’re able to look at properties in person you’ll start to get a feel for what type of place in your price range is most appealing. This neck of the woods tends to have an older housing stock but a lot of places have been nicely renovated, some not so nicely. There has been quite a bit of new development in the last five years too. In Cambridge, Somerville and Arlington you’ll find a variety of styles - lofts, townhouses, low-rise buildings, and condos in converted two or three-unit houses. After a tour or two you’re likely to cross some styles of your list and concentrate on the types of units that seem the best fit.
Good luck with your move! I bet you’ll love living here.

[northEnd]

North End is too expensive and too small. Two cars are a pain anywhere in Boston area as street parking is almost non-existent, so if you can find a garage you are doing well.

Charleston and North End are places to live if you work in the City, but given that you will be in Burlington, look Cambridge/Somerville and towns toward Burlington.