relocating to Burlington area (Boston, Cambridge: apartment complexes, rental, townhouses)

[leavingtx]

Hi everyone:

I have an opportunity to relocate to Burlington, MA for my job.

I'll be on my own and I'm looking for an apartment that has a decent commuting time to Burlington (e.g. less than 30 minutes, with traffic). In the course of my research I haven't seen many apartments in Burlington proper.

Can any of you recommend any neighboring towns that might offer a nice place to live? (Meaning grocery stores, restaurants, movie theater, and other such amenities.)

Thanks in advance!

[johnny99]

I work in Burlington and commute in everyday from Medford. You go opposite traffic and no need to hit 93 or 128. I like Medford because of its proximity to Boston and community feel. I'm not big into McMansion suburbs where nobody see's or knows their neighbor.

[goyguy]

Arlington would be a good bet. It's on the city/suburb frontier, with direct access to Burlington via Route 3. Though that stretch of 3 is two-laned, the only backups which last for more than one traffic-light cycle would occur as you near the 128/95 interchange by the mall. And your workplace might be situated south of that anyway. 20-30 minutes would be ample time to allow, plus you'd even have the option of public transpo via the MBTA's Route 350 bus (MBTA.com > Official Website for Greater Boston's Public Transportation System) if you'd be on a set schedule (its timetable is pretty light, in other words service is infrequent.)
Due to the relaxing of liquor laws as well as escalating real-estate prices in Somerville and Cambridge, Arlington has grown considerably more "interesting" over the past decade. You now have your pick of no less than five places for sushi - in the center of town alone. Then, in addition to that, there are yuppie places-to-be-seen (Flora, Tryst, Prose) + a choice of Italian spots + one of the best Indian eateries in the region + Thai and Argentinian restaurants...the list goes on. For in-home cooking, the Foodmaster and Stop & Shop supermarket chains have nice stores in town (hit the former for value, the latter for selection.) On the Cambridge side of Arlington, the "plexed" but otherwise intact 1920's Capitol Theater is a great place to catch a flick, and in Arlington Center the Regent hosts live entertainment as well as movies. Just like "everywhere," there's a Starbucks in town, but those in the know cross Medford St to get their java fix at the Gail Ann Coffee Shop.
Arlington's main drag, Mass. Ave, is lined for its entire length by varying types of apartment houses. You'll find everything from WWI-era duplexes and "three-deckas" to 1930's brick complexes to '50s-to-'70s low-rise and mid-rise brick boxes. Many side streets - particularly on the east side of town - hold still more two-families. Traffic dies down considerably on Mass. Ave after 8 PM or so, making for easy sleep even if your windows face the street, and the side streets are tree-lined and quiet as can be.
For serious night life, Cambridge is right next door and Boston is a quick bus/subway ride away. And if you like to hike or bike, the Minuteman Bikeway between the Alewife subway terminal on the Cambridge/Arlington border and the suburb of Bedford slices right through Arlington along a former commuter-rail route.
There really isn't a lack of rental options within Burlington itself, but since the town blew up from nothing to mall sprawl bedroom community only after 128 was built you don't get the quality that you'll find in older towns. What exists are mainly complexes from the '60s to '80s, along with a new high-rise (of all things.) Meh. There's a tad bit better variety in Woburn, bordering Burlington to the southeast, and Medford (south of Woburn, east of Arlington) offers much the same mix Arlington does minus the theaters and myriad dining-out choices.
If you're from Houston or DFW you'll be pleasantly surprised at how Greater Boston doesn't go on forever and ever in comparison. Sure, it's a big city with a gazillion 'burbs in all directions, but you can be in a rural or wooded or small-town environment inside of an hour. The bigger adjustments will be having real winters, no Suth'n twang, an appalling lack of good BBQ and chili joints, and no need to wonder which cowboy hat to wear.

[leavingtx]

johnny99 and goyguy, thanks very much for your responses. You've been very helpful!

[holden125]

If you want something more urban, you can look also at Waltham. It is a small city with some more restaurants, bars, etc. than Arlington. Arlington has a decent restaurant scene now (not so when I was a kid there) but no nightlife to speak of (though of course Cambridge, Somerville, etc. are nearby as goyguy rightly points out).

It's not too far from Waltham to Burlington on 128, and the traffic in the morning is much heavier going the other way. Waltham has a fairly dense center, but is much more suburban (and even almost woodsy) as you go north, closer to Lexington.

[goyguy]

Good call! In contradiction of its name, Moody St in Waltham can be a fun place. Chain restaurant though it may be (with food quality to match), Margarita's is becoming a late-night place to be seen. Jake's has been known to host live blues/rock acts which sound worth the trip - but not doable for car-less city folk. They and Bison County make credible attempts at BBQ too. And the restaurant row there has seemingly no end of choices: Central American, the obligatory sushi places, Indian, Irish (with Guinness on tap, natcherly)...
For hanging your hat, cowboy or not, in Waltham there are numerous apartment complexes on the north/northwest side of town. There's also an extensive country-quiet collection of sturdy 4-unit townhouses along South St beyond Brandeis University alongside the river. The made-over and added-to former Grover Cronin department store is now known as Cronin's Landing, where you'd be in the same building as Margarita's and have sweeping views from some of the undoubtedly more expensive units. Along Crescent and Adams St's, as well as other side streets off Moody (many named for trees), there are many older wood-framed apartment houses to consider digs in too.
My only hesitation in putting Waltham out there is that 128 is the route "everybody" in the western suburbs takes to and from work. It's heavily traveled at all times and can be a parking lot at peak hours.