Living in Newburyport -- Worth moving closer to Boston? (Cambridge: houses, safe neighborhoods)

[NBPTtoBoston]

My husband and I are trying to decide whether or not we should stay in Newburyport or move somewhere closer to Boston to accommodate a change in his job situation. I'm hoping that some of you will have some advice and thoughts about the trade-offs.

Details: For the couple of years we've been in Newburyport, my husband has been self-employed, and so commute has not been an issue. He's able to spend substantial amounts of time with our two kids, both of whom are under age 3. Starting soon, however, he is likely to take a job either in Waltham or in Boston (most likely near the Children's Museum).

If we stay in Newburyport, his commute will be an hour minimum, and we'll probably have to buy a second car (definitely if he ends up in Waltham). Reducing commute time would be one reason to move. Another reason would be to increase the potential for making friends with other Japanese families. As our kids get older, we'd also like to be able to send them to Japanese Saturday school in Medford without a lengthy commute.

Friends and family have suggested that we consider moving to Arlington. Are there specific areas of Arlington that anyone would recommend? Is there anywhere else that is family-friendly with good walking destinations that is close to Waltham and Medford?

Or are we better off just staying in Newburyport and dealing with the long commute and isolation from Japanese friends and food?

[goyguy]

Given the circumstances, I'd say a move "closer in" is in order.

Arlington is a solid possibility, but - again given the circumstances - I want to suggest Belmont also. It's adjacent to both Waltham and Cambridge, with some bus service (not very direct or frequent) between Waverley Square on its west side and Waltham Center. There are two, better, bus lines - along Brighton St and Blanchard Rd on the town's eastern fringe, and from Belmont Center down Concord Ave - which run to Harvard Square. Trackless trolley service on Trapelo Rd and Belmont St, also to Harvard Square, is excellent.

This query has struck an especially responsive chord with me because I lived in Japan for three years. More importantly, my first job as an independent adult was in the public school system of Belmont - "culture and language" tutor for Japanese students! Because the town is popular with visiting scholars, exchange-program professors, graduate students, etc, from all over the world, it's become a community of choice for people from Japan. The current Empress of Japan resided there with her family; "who knew" when I was working with her twin younger sisters and having conferences with their mom?! The main reason for Belmont's desirability - besides its convenience to Waltham, Cambridge, and Boston - is, after all, its stellar schools.

In addition to the outstanding academic situation there, you have your pick of quiet and safe neighborhoods filled with well-kept and spacious older homes. The "Dutch Colonial" and Tudor styles are especially plentiful. In Belmont Center, and toward the boundaries of the town, are where you'll find smaller and more "affordable" dwellings. Belmont Hill, west of the town center, is filled with "estate houses" including that of Mitt Romney and is host to the Mass. Audubon "Habitat" nature preserve.

So, yeah, I strongly recommend Belmont - not to the exclusion of Arlington, but that town is much larger (some 60,000 or so people versus less than 20,000 in Belmont) and its schools weren't quite as good even before anti-property-tax-levy votes started doing their damage. Lexington would be another option, as the school system there is well above average too, but its Asian community is mainly comprised of Chinese and South Asian folks and the housing is more costly.

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu ;-)

[wndola]

I am in the process of relocvating from Los Angeles to Waltham. I would like to continue my Japanese studies after the move and am looking for a tutor who can help me focus my studies for the JLPT and still have fun with language. Can you give me any tips or pointers for finding one convenient to the Waltham area?