commute from Boston to Worcester? (Cambridge, Newton: to rent, home, school district)

[vast]

is this considered a 'reverse commute' with regard to traffic (meaning lighter traffic than going West to East). Are there locations between these two cities that would allow for a good reverse commute, but be close enough to Boston for a half hour/40 min train ride into the city when needed? Dont need a good school district, looking to rent, nice area, good shopping and restaurants, single, not family life.

thanks,
Vast

[brightdoglover]

Sure. Anywhere along the purple line commuter train. If you want to drive the commute, anywhere along Route 2. Not sure about the Pike, but anywhere along it would lead to Worcester- I'm not sure what part of Worcester the Pike leads into, plus it costs for tolls.
I think the 30-40 minute train idea might be something like NYC, where you can hop on a train and get anywhere you want when you want. The commuter trains here aren't like that- they largely run on a M-F schedule, normal business hours.
Best wishes.

[Cato the Elder]

Originally Posted by vast

is this considered a 'reverse commute' with regard to traffic (meaning lighter traffic than going West to East). Are there locations between these two cities that would allow for a good reverse commute, but be close enough to Boston for a half hour/40 min train ride into the city when needed? Dont need a good school district, looking to rent, nice area, good shopping and restaurants, single, not family life.

thanks,
Vast

I know folks who work in Worcester and live in Waltham. They don't have kids and wanted a lively place with good restaurants that wouldn't break the bank. They drive to work (Holy Cross) since it's not terribly close to Union Station (around 40 minutes along the turnpike). For them it's worth it since they have close friends near Waltham and enjoy the amenities of Boston regularly (they also can work from home on non-teaching days). They live near the Newton border so they can hop on the Fitchburg line if they want to head to Cambridge or North Station. They are also near the Auburndale and Riverside stops for commuter rail into South Station or the Green Line. One thing to keep in mind is that commuter rail is quite sporadic on a reverse commute.

Otherwise, you pretty much have sleepy suburbs between the two locales. If you want to be a bit closer to Worcester, you can check out the Framingham/Natick area. You won't be lacking in shopping and restaurants, but it's mostly the big box/chain type unlike Waltham.

[jbadam28]

I am also wondering about this commute time driving. Just got a job in Worcester and would like to live in Waltham but worried about the commute time. What do people think about the waltham to worcester reverse commute? Looking to live in a fun area with single young professionals

[SteveJunior]

I commuted from Newton/Waltham line to Westboro/495 in the morning and it was a breeze. 20 minutes or so. Mass Turnpike going against traffic. Depending on what part of Worcester may be another 15-20. I can't imagine it being bad. Going the other direction-west to east looked like a nightmare, I'd see the backup every morning.

[LocalType]

I live in Waltham on the West Newton line. I'm super close to where 128 and the Pike meet. It's literally about 3 minutes to get to the Pike, and in heavy traffic 5-6. The ride to Worcester is about 35-40 minutes (to the exit I take, which is 10A) at speed, and 20 into Boston last time I went that way. Moody Street is close by for random shops and restaurants. It would be reverse to go to Worcester in the AM, I believe. It's reverse to go north on 128 in the AM, which is the direction I'm usually going.

I've been wanting to find a place in Auburndale, which is a stone's toss to the south, but is less cramped and Commonwealth Ave. is right there, and that goes right into Boston, and there are a lot of shops and such along the way. The area around Washington St. in Brighton is awesome, I love going through there, tons of shops, cafes, etc. and the population is a little younger since Boston College is right there.