Groton? (Boston, Cambridge, Framingham: house, to buy, live in)

[Braunwyn]

Hi,

Does any one live in Groton? And do you commute to the city? I was checking out some homes today and the commute looks like it would be tough but I loved the terrain.

[ogre]

Mmm, yes, I'm not surprised that you loved the terrain. That area out to the northwest of Boston is beautiful. Unfortunately, I think you're right that the commute from Groton would be tough. That would be a long drive to work even in light traffic. If you'd be traveling during normal commuting hours you would encounter heavy traffic beginning in the outer suburbs. Unfortunate but true.

[Braunwyn]

I don't know what to do. When I'm looking at homes, one of things I consider is pollution. Middlesex county is in the top 10% IRT pollution counties in the US. Given all of our technology, that's not surprising but if/when I have children, the ideal would be a clean enviroment for them. I was going to look at a home in northern tewksbury yesterday but upon research, I found out that the home was less than a mile from the power plant the town folk have been fighting against. So, I didn't bother going to the open house. The towns that are low on the pollution index for middlesex, close to Cambridge, are Reading and similar. I cannot afford a home in Reading, winchester, etc.

I've been looking at Framingham, but again, it's highly congested with lots of car pollution. Groton, OTOH, looks real good. Without any traffic, if I leave for work at 6am, than the commute would be around an hour, maybe 50 min. I wonder if I can deal with that kind of commute long term. Groton would be a better life style for my family. It's also unlikely that I would be able to find an equal or better job outside the city.

[Braunwyn]

Of course, unless I leave for work at 6am (from Wakefield), my commute is an hour any way. Right now it's 7am and I won't get out the door until 7:45 and will arive at work after 9am. I've been doing the commute any way. Can I manage to leave at 6 am though? Maybe if I stop yapping on forums when I get up lol.

[SickOfRevere]

I don't know about an hour from Groton to Boston. When I worked in Acton, my friend told me it took him an hour and a half in the rush hour from Malden. And an Hour home at 8pm .

[Braunwyn]

I would have to leave at 6am for the hour commute to miss rush hour. Although, 7am in congested in Cambridge at the time. We've received a counter offer in Framingham that we have accepted. So, if all goes smoothly, the Groton commute won't matter. I'll still have to leave at 6am from Framingham any way! Dam Boston traffic.

[allykat623]

Braunwyn, I hope your house deal is going smoothly. I just wanted to add info about the commute from Groton in case anyone is searching for it later.

The commuter rail (Fitchburg line) runs from Ayer (next town over) to Porter Sq in Cambridge, where you can pick up the Red Line, or you can go on to South Station in Boston. My husband has been doing this commute. Ayer to his office in Cambridge (gets off at Porter then takes the Red Line a few stops) takes him 1hr10min. The commuter rail is a feasible choice. It's long, but it beats an hour+ in the car any day.

[Braunwyn]

Thanks allykat623. I decided to buy a home in Framingham. The town is not as beautiful as Groton, that's for sure, but the house is 16-18 miles from my job in Cambridge.