Relocation to Cambridge (Boston, Lynn, Weymouth: homes, transfer to, neighborhood)

[st07924]

We are being relocated to Cambridge and would like some input on where to live. We are emptynesters looking for a single family home approx $500k. Wishes would be an easy commute, a town/neighborhood with restaurants, shops etc. perhaps close to the water. Any suggestions?

[redpanda]

Wakefield and Melrose both have lake access and nice quaint downtowns, and are on commuter rail lines for an easy trip downtown (not sure how long it would take to get to Cambridge by rail from these locations). Arlington borders Cambridge and has a great downtown area and several ponds/reservoirs as well. All 3 meet your price requirements, especially if you don't need or want too much space.

Winchester could work as well, it's a lovely town. But frankly if you don't have kids in school, why pay for the top school district there when your dollar will go further elsewhere?

[jayrandom]

It's a hassle to get from Wakefield or Melrose to Cambridge using public transportation, although both are nice towns. I'd second the suggestion for Arlington--relatively easy into Cambridge by bus or bus + Red Line and there are some nice ponds.

[goyguy]

When somebody says "close to the water," often they're thinking about the ocean - one of many peculiarities in our language. We'll say "near the lake shore" or "on the river" if those are the bodies of H2O we want to be around. Just sayin'.
If the TO does seek to be a short distance from the Atlantic, perhaps Hingham would be a good fit. There's now a commuter rail line that passes through there en route to South Station, whence it's an easy transfer to the Red Line subway right to Cambridge. A couple of stops en route can also be used for changing trains.
After years and years of NIMBY posturing (the line had been mothballed in 1959 when the Southeast "Distressway" opened), Hingham has now embraced the commuter rail service. Near the waterfront, a large new shopping/living complex has recently opened. The town center remains pleasant and walkable, with a preppie upscale feel throughout. (Talbots' headquarters is there, what does that tell you!) The "Tosca" restaurant is a perennial foodie favorite, and - last I checked - the Loring Hall Cinema continues to successfully thumb its nose at the cineplexes and draw loyal moviegoers. My personal favorite place in Hingham is the oddly named World's End Reservation, a wooded peninsula which had been targeted by developers who walked away as the Great Depression took hold. It's a laid-back spot, off the beaten path, to hike around while taking in stupendous vistas of the harbor and distant Boston. There are several other significant nature preserves within the town boundaries, one of them boasting a demonstration farm that's a favorite of local kids to visit.
Hingham does tend to be on the pricy side, but there should be a fair selection of homes available for $500k or less. More affordable, while also "close to the water," are Weymouth + Braintree (neighboring to the west) and Hull (on a long, narrow spit of land jutting out from Hingham.)
Desirable North Shore communities along the coast include Winthrop, Marblehead, Beverly, Nahant, and Swampscott - just naming the ones closest to "town." There are also some nice sections of Salem and Lynn, with some ponds situated within the latter city. But for Cambridge commute purposes these locations all take a back seat to the South Shore area. Having that direct access to the Red Line makes a major difference. Unless the TO's workplace is in the Lechmere Square or East Cambridge area, in which case the North Shore could still be in the picture. Green Line trolleys out of North Station make for a quick ride out to Lechmere. Plus there's an independent bus service called "E-Z Ride" which links the station to the Kendall/MIT/Tech Square/University Park section.
For public transpo schedules, maps, etc:
MBTA.com > Official Website for Greater Boston's Public Transportation System for Greater Boston's subway/bus/rail system
Charles River Transportation Management Association for the E-Z Ride shuttle
I'll second (third? fourth? fifth?) the suggestions for Arlington also.