Acton (Cambridge, Lexington, Belmont: apartments, rental, new house)

[boston_neophyte]

I've heard very good things from folks here about the South Shore, but what about Acton? Is it a nice place to live? Is there a main street/downtown to it?
Thanks-

[MovingForward]

Acton is great: nice town, family-oriented, excellent schools (and the expensive houses to go with them). It depends on what you're looking for.

[brightdoglover]

Acton is a wonderful town. New houses are pricey, but there are smaller, older houses that are cheaper (remember, nothing is cheap by standards outside Massachusetts). There are a lot of rental apartments. Acton seems to be several small "village centers" with suburbs around them. Very well located for commuting north, east or west.
Disclaimer: I live one town over from Acton.

[elijahwilliams]

How is the commute to Cambridge from Acton?

[airedaly]

You have to leave very early in the morning, since the traffic on Rte 2 is hideous. And the return trip in the evening can take hours. I don't know why people live in Acton and commute into the City unless they use the train.

Over the years, Rte 2 has become more and more congested due to the building boom in Concord, W. Concord, Acton and points west.

Acton doesn't have a vibrant, walkable town center like Lexington and Concord, just little strips of shops. The schools are great with a lot of parental involvement, but the commute is such a killer that I wouldn't consider it.

Rte 2 is one of the most dangerous roads and snow/rain only makes it worse. My recommendation; stay in Acton for a couple of days and commute to Cambridge at rush hour.

[boston_neophyte]

But using the train makes it convenient though, yes?

[elijahwilliams]

That's a good idea airedaily. Our kids are in private school in Cambridge so it doesn't make sense to move out so far b/c of the commute. I'm stuck though as to where to buy!

[drouhin]

I've lived in Acton.

There is a town center, but not much there other than a fire station, a church, the (very good) library and the town hall. West Acton village actually has more of a town center feel to it, if that's what you're looking for. The schools are some of the best in the state, and the commute really isn't that bad if you take commuter rail. Only about 30-40 minutes from South Acton station to Cambridge, IIRC. Like everyone else has written, I'd recommend against driving Route 2 during rush hour.

One really nice thing about Acton is that you'll find yourself closer to rural areas. Fruitlands, many hiking areas, many horseback riding stables, Nashoba valley ski area are all nearby. And I've already mentioned the schools -- they really are fantastic.

[brightdoglover]

A lot of my co-workers live in Acton/out Rt.2 and commute to Belmont, right off Rt.2 before Alewife and the Cambridge line. To avoid serious traffic, it was necessary for them to leave the house by 6:30a or else it was a mess. Sometimes I've had to be in Belmont at 8a, and have left at 6:30a, arriving at 7a and sitting at a diner until 8a.

The traffic within Cambridge is worse. It depends on where in Cambridge you're going. If it's East Cambridge, you can spend more time stuck in city traffic than on Rt. 2.

You could drive to Alewife and take the red line into Cambridge. I'd consider living in Acton and go to Cambridge for work.