Working in Arlington, where to live? (Boston, Cambridge: apartments, rental, condos) - Massachusetts (MA) - City-Data Forum

thepinkdictator · 10-08-2011, 04:49 PM

Alright, so here are the details of my situation: I'm 26, I'm a single woman, I'm going to be working in Arlington come Jan. and I have no idea where I should be looking for a place to live. I'm originally from the west coast, but I'm currently living not too terribly far from the Boston area and have been there a few times, but always as a visitor and I don't know the city well enough to make an informed decision. Where should I be looking for apartments? I'd like someplace that would be an easy commute to Arlington (either by car or by public transport), someplace safe, someplace at least a little bit walkable. I don't need much in terms of apartments, but I will have a roommate coming from New York (she works from home, so commuting really isn't an issue with her) so we'll need a two bedroom place, preferably somewhere in $1500-1700 range. Is that even possible anywhere in the greater Boston area? Please, anything you all give me will make me eternally grateful, because I have no idea what I'm doing! Thanks in advance!

Brave Stranger · 10-08-2011, 05:09 PM

You can live right in Arlington ! There's a lot of 2 family homes & apartment buildings & most of them are right off of Mass Ave. The Mass Ave bus will tak you right to Harvard Square in 25 minutes. Arlington is very safe & there's lot's of places to eat. It's a great town. You will be able to get to work within minutes by living there. There's a ton of decent apartments in your price range in Arlington. If you need any more info someone will come along soon enough, or PM me if you have any questions that go unanswered. I own property in town & have lived in Arlington. Good luck

nancy thereader · 10-09-2011, 07:57 PM

Are there any condos? Do any of them have garages?

Brave Stranger · 10-09-2011, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancy thereader

Are there any condos? Do any of them have garages?

There are many condos in Arlington. The Rembrant & Watermill Place are two buildings that have garage parking. There are several condos that have covered parking that I know of. There are 2 family homes that have been turned into condos that have garages. Condo prices run anywhere from $270,000 to $600,000. I know the town very well, and can give you more info on location, or whatever, good luck

Cantabridgienne · 10-09-2011, 09:07 PM

It may be different on the West Coast but here a condo is a form of ownership, not a type of apartment.

If Arlington is too suburban for you, you could also look into Cambridge and Somerville.

snatale1 · 10-10-2011, 04:58 PM

If you work in Arlington, live in Arlington. It's a nice town with everything you need. You'd be nuts to move to Boston and pay higher $$ for less.

goyguy · 10-10-2011, 11:32 PM

For someone yet to reach 35 the finite extent of night-life choices might be a deterrent. Then again, it could be an attraction. (Somerville and Cambridge may be close at hand, but with the MBTA's early end of service cab fares start to add up after a while.)

Bostonmania · 10-11-2011, 12:23 PM

I would pick cambridge and take the train to arlington. I love cambridge pretty much all around, and arlingtons great too, but if you're geared more towards a bigger city community cambridge is moRE interesting. I havent lived there though but want to, its where i would choose if i were to work in arlington.

gilwood · 10-13-2011, 09:04 AM

Actually I think cambridge is less interesting than arlington. Arlington seems cleaner and has a nice town center where most restaurants / bars are. Cambridge has more traffic, flooded with college kids, major parking issues, and there is no real "center" where you can go bar or restaurant hopping. Some born-and-raised Bostonians have told me that they refuse to set foot in cambridge b/c they hate it there.

There definitely lots of condos to be rented in your price range. Craigslist is the dominant source of rental listings. Remember that many people don't decide on an apartment in the Boston area until a few weeks before move in, sometimes days!

Cantabridgienne · 10-13-2011, 09:12 AM

What bars are there in Arlington? Oh right, none because the town forbids them.

Doesn't sound like you've spent much (any?) time in Cambridge if that's your impression. Yeah, so difficult to find restaurants/bars in Central, Inman, Kendall or Porter Squares. And what's your obsession with driving everywhere? Take the T dude, take a cab. I'm getting the impression that you live out in the suburbs and your experiences in Boston are from a tourist standpoint.