Commute to Dedham (Boston, Newton, Orange: neighborhood, school district, to live)

[jewell11]

Hi, we are relocating to Boston from Binghamton NY in Oct. One job is in Dedham, and looking at either Newton or JP to live. Want a walkable town center and near T. Any opinion on the comparative commute from these areas? Thx! Jim

[HenryAlan]

Both Newton and JP will work for you. I would say JP is overall more walkable, as parts of Newton are fairly suburban. But Newton does have several town center type areas, which will give you a good walking experience. Both also have rapid transit lines to downtown Boston (D-Line LRT for Newton, Orange Line HRT for JP). The commute to Dedham is pretty equivalent for each, probably 10 to 15 minutes of driving.

There are some differences in these communities that might sway you a bit:

• Jamaica Plain: more urban, higher population density, more funky
• Newton: a nice mix of accessible shops and restaurants combined with larger and more private housing options
• Jamaica Plain: can be expensive but also offers lower cost options
• Newton: is expensive, no lower cost options
• Jamaica Plain: Boston Public Schools, which can be very good but can also cause issues. If you pick JP and have kids, you'll need to put more effort in to understanding the school system and how best to maximize your options
• Newton: one of the very best public school systems in the country. But as with anywhere else, there are kids who fail to thrive, kids who get in trouble, etc.

And if you like cycling:

• Jamaica Plain: closer to downtown, great place if you enjoy urban cycling
• Newton: close enough to downtown, but more of a suburban orientation -- good access to both urban biking and country roads

Hope this helps!

[snatale1]

I'd go Newton over JP. JP has many nice places, but many ghetto ones as well. If you do have kids JP is out. I've got to disagree with HenryAlan, I've never heard anybody ever say Boston Public and "very good" in the same sentence. I'm from JP, and did a 12yr sentence in Bostons terrible schools. Why not Dedham? Nice town, good schools, has everything and affordable.

[HenryAlan]

snatale1's experience in the schools was many years ago, and not necessarily relevant today. But I also wonder why not simply pick Dedham, rather than choose between nearby communities. It will be less expensive than either JP or Newton. One thing to think about, though (only if you have kids) is that any smaller town suburban school district is not going to have many options for you other than the neighborhood school. I don't know much about Dedham schools, but if the neighborhood school isn't very good, then you are basically out of luck. In Newton, you won't have that problem -- they are all good. Likewise, in JP you won't have that problem, because you will have dozens of different schools available to you.

[jewell11]

thank you everyone! No kids, but want fast access to town when they visit.

[snatale1]

Originally Posted by HenryAlan

In Newton, you won't have that problem -- they are all good. Likewise, in JP you won't have that problem, because you will have dozens of different schools available to you.

I'm not sure what part of YOU DON'T GET TO CHOOSE YOUR SCHOOL you don't get, but just like how all of Newton's school's are good...all of JP (or Boston's) for that fact are terrible. Again, before you tell people that I'm biased, LOOK FOR YOURSELF! I went to those schools my whole life did you? I still have family in them now, do you? The numbers are public info! Look them up yourself. So I'll repeat myself, If Boston's schools are so good, why do kids go into METCO lotteries to get shipped out to the burbs to go to GOOD schools at the cost of Boston taxpayers?