[raristo]

Hi all,

Need some helps to find a suitable area to live. My new office is at New Britain. My wife can choose to work from Boston (by the harbor), Providence, and NY Penn Station. I am willing to commute more by train or car so my wife's commute time is somewhat reasonable (max of 10-20 minutes drive to train station as she hates driving). We are open to live in CT and MA. Does such place exist? Thank you.

[JayCT]

You do realize that none of these cities are close to New Britain. Providence is the closest but it is about 84 miles away. Even if you lived half way between the commute would be difficult since there are no expressways between them so the commute would be long (about an hour drive) for both of you.

Both New York and Boston are about 112 miles from New Britain. There is no real commuter rail service between Connecticut and Boston but there is regular Metro North service between New Haven and Manhattan. You could live along the coast in say Milford or Fairfield. Your drive would be about an hour and her commute about 90 to 110 minutes. You could even live closer to New York to shorten her commute but then your drive would be longer.

IF you wife really wants to work in Boston, you could live in or near Worcester which I believe is the closest train into Boston. It would be a 75 mile drive everyday though. Not something I would want to do every day. Jay

[East of the River]

Well you can live closer to NYC if you go the Penn station route commute to New Britain won't be too bad. Lot depends on budget and how much train time is OK.
Providence equals a lot of driving for one or both of you and mostly not on limited access highways.
Boston the only thing that might work is living up off 84 near Worcester or living in one of the towns past Worcester and you driving an hour one way. You can catch the T into Boston (about an hour and 20 minutes) But it would mean you getting thru Hartford (or down below it on side roads) to get to New Britain.
Lots of this again depends on budget and more commute details. For instance Living near Worcester or halfway between Providence and Hartford will be much less expensive then getting within commuting distance of NYC.

[robr2]

Also, will she be in Boston proper and if yes, what area? Commuter Rail from Worcester or Providence go into South Station. If she needs to get to a North Station area office, it adds even more time.

Somewhere like Norwich, CT would be about halfway but an hour plus ride for both.

Would living in MA and renting a studio in New Britain make sense?

[Newtohartfordct]

If you chose new Britain and providence, You could live in Groton or Waterford, but both of you would be commuting an hour each way.

My Dh is a reservist and drives to Groton once a month. I’m in rocky hill, so close to new Britain. It takes him a little over an hour to get there. That’s on a Saturday morning with next to no traffic.

When he was active and we lived in Groton, we went to Providence every weekend. It was about an hour also, maybe less depending on traffic. Again this is on the weekend when there’s less people on the road.

I’m not sure if that is sustainable long-term, especially when winter comes. I think temporarily it would be fine. Not sure about trains.

Maybe should could look for a new job in Hartford that way you could be closer to your job.

[Newtohartfordct]

I used to live in Indiana and many people commuted over an hour. It was the norm. That’s not the case out here for many.

There is no way Dh could do it now. We have been spoiled by living so close to his job.

[raristo]

Thanks for your inputs, JayCT and EOTR.

I am willing to spend up to an hour to commute to New Britain so Stratford / New Haven / Fairfield in CT are the possibilities IF my wife commutes to Penn Station.

Worcester sounds like the only option if she commutes to Boston.

As for Providence, well, despite being physically the closest, there aren't public transit available so it is now out of the picture.

Since we are renting for the first year, our budget is around $2,000 for 1 bedroom + den or 2 bedroom. We don't have kids yet so school is not a concern.

[East of the River]

Originally Posted by raristo

Thanks for your inputs, JayCT and EOTR.

I am willing to spend up to an hour to commute to New Britain so Stratford / New Haven / Fairfield in CT are the possibilities IF my wife commutes to Penn Station.

Worcester sounds like the only option if she commutes to Boston.

As for Providence, well, despite being physically the closest, there aren't public transit available so it is now out of the picture.

Since we are renting for the first year, our budget is around $2,000 for 1 bedroom + den or 2 bedroom. We don't have kids yet so school is not a concern.

For Boston Sturbridge or Charlton MA might be best That's about an hour to New Britain with light traffic or hour and 20 minutes near rush hour. And about 20-25 minute drive to the Closest T station. Not sure about traffic getting to the T station.

For CT some one will likely have better answers but Milford would be an option.

Side note on the Boston thing. While it's a bear others do it. I worked with a woman in East Windsor who's husband worked in Boston (near back bay I think) They lived right near Worcester but I forget which town. I gather they did that for close to 20 years.

[raristo]

Originally Posted by robr2

Also, will she be in Boston proper and if yes, what area? Commuter Rail from Worcester or Providence go into South Station. If she needs to get to a North Station area office, it adds even more time.

Somewhere like Norwich, CT would be about halfway but an hour plus ride for both.

Would living in MA and renting a studio in New Britain make sense?

Hi robr2,

Her office is within walking distance to South Station. How would she go from Norwich to Boston / Providence besides driving the whole way?

Not sure what you mean by living in MA and renting a studio in New Britain. I do want to hug my wife every morning and evening. :-)

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by raristo

Hi all,

Need some helps to find a suitable area to live. My new office is at New Britain. My wife can choose to work from Boston (by the harbor), Providence, and NY Penn Station. I am willing to commute more by train or car so my wife's commute time is somewhat reasonable (max of 10-20 minutes drive to train station as she hates driving). We are open to live in CT and MA. Does such place exist? Thank you.

Your plan will be shot to hell the first time it snows. The only bright spot you may have is that New Britain has a lot of cheap rentals. If these are dream jobs and neither of you want to quit one rent a place in New Britain and another place close to your wifes job.