Moving to Boston from Nebraska. Advice Needed!

[flowbe202]

Mansfield is just under the 45 minute commute OP wanted.

Always wonder if commuters' "time" includes getting to the train and from the train to office... That would add some time and would push it pass the 45 min mark. Hmmmm...

[johngolf]

When one works in a city they need to realize commute time can be quite variable. Also the Boston area offers public transportation options like trains, busses, subways, etc. that one does not have elsewhere.

Mansfield (as an example) is a lovely town but only a 45 min commute by car maybe at 3AM. Try 8AM or 5PM and one is looking at closer to 1 1/4 hours. Throw in bad weather (like snow) and it could easily be 2 hours or more. Also parking at the arrival destination can be an issue.

Driving to a parking lot and taking the train/subway works out well. Learn the difference between the subway and the train (commuter rail). Main difference is where they stop meaning in some cases one will still have to take a subway/bus at the end of the commuter rail trip whereas the subway will get you close to NE even if a station change is required.

In some locations one could walk to a subway stop but unless outside the city, many subway stops are not in the nicest areas. Some safe, walkable stops would be on the Green Line out to Riverside (Newton).

There are also busses either to the city or to a subway stop so take a look at that also. As an example Bus 62 from Bedford to Lexington to Arlington to Alewife subway station. The busses can go pretty far out.

If you stay within or on the edge of Rte 95 (the old Rte 128) where it circles the city, then it would be an easy commute no matter how you do it. To acclimate you. Get a map, draw a line from Rte 3 on the south of Boston around I95/Rte 128 to Rte 1 north of the city. Stay within this circle and it will be an easy commute no matter how done.

Not to make it confusing but you will have plenty of options for commuting. The issue will be finding a nice rental in a safe area. With a one year old the school system means little for the next few years. Also means the kid is not out on their own so a less safe more urban area (Somerville, Cambridge) rather then leafy suburb area with good schools (like Mansfield, Lexington) can work well for you and the wife.

Also the rental will allow time to get settled in the new job and the area. One year from now you will be in a much better position to select another area. With such a short time frame, latch on to the first place you find that would work for you.

Hope this helps

[semiurbanite]

Originally Posted by johngolf

a less safe more urban area (Somerville, Cambridge) rather then leafy suburb area with good schools (like Mansfield, Lexington) can work well for you and the wife.

Hope this helps

West Somerville and most of Cambridge are actually very safe for kids.