128 commute times (Boston, Newton, Haverhill: condo, house, neighborhoods)

[late-start]

Hello.

Have been lurking for quite a while and now that we are closer to moving, thought it best to become a more active member. I have gained a lot of information in looking through many of the threads over the past year. From my experience with other online communities, I always feel it is best to introduce oneself before posing a question.

I am a 37yo living with my wife and 5month old daughter in Brookline (between CC and BV). We are in a great 'new' 2 bedroom condo with offstreet parking. We absolutely love where we live but are in need of some living and outdoor space. Complicating matters is that I work in Haverhill and my wife works in Norwood. We are a professional couple who could spend $1M but do not want to be house poor. If either us worked in Boston, then we would try to stay in brookline or look at one of the Newton Villages. But since that is not the case it is a bit hard to make sacrifices w/o the benefit of a shorter commute.

I have been in Boston since 2000 where as my wife grew up in the area. So we have a pretty good understanding of the surrounding towns; but far from detailed. We are looking at the usual suspects (Lex, Belmont, Wellesley, Newton and Needham) given our desire for good schools, sense of community and a degree of a walkable town center.

In terms of our commute; Needham would clearly be best for my wife but bad for me and Lexington would be the opposite. Newton/Wellesley are in the middle but certain areas are not an easy jump onto 128. As it stands now I do think Lexington is highest on our list (or at least mine) but I am worried about her commute.

Any ideas about estimated commute times for the below (say at 7:30A and 5:00P)

1. Lexington -> Norwood and then the return
2. Newton -> 93/128 Cloverleaf and then the return
3. Needham -> 93/128 Cloverleaf and then the return


Thanks in advance for any advice and I apologize for such a long winded post

-J

[MikePRU]

Wow! It seems like this is a no win situation. The two of you work so far apart that no matter which of these towns you pick one of you is going to have a really long commute. Is there one of you who is going to be your daughter's chauffeur? That person likely would need to have the shorter commute.

[Parsec]

One thing I can say after many years of driving from Natick to 128 North is that traffic is much worse going from Lexington (Rt-2) towards the Rt-30 exit than it is going from the Rt-30 exit to Rt-2 (Lexington). That trip is 10 minutes in the morning rush hour going North along that 128 stretch between the Pike and Rt-2, but can be twice as long going South. The Pike is a major bottleneck, so living close to the 128/Pike junction either off the Rt-30 or Rt-16 exit would result in optimal commute times for both of you.

For $1mm I would personally live in a "relatively modest" older colonial in Weston or Wellesley Farms, but for your needs it does sound like Wellesley Hills or Newton (Auburndale, West Newton) would fit your lifestyle better.

[Parsec]

I had clients all over MA, NH and RI, so when I traveled from Natick to 128 South, I took Rt-9 instead of Rt-30. From the Rt-9 interchange there is absolutely no traffic heading on 128 South to the cloverleaf during the morning rush hour.

[late-start]

Thank you for the replies

Originally Posted by MikePRU

Wow! It seems like this is a no win situation. The two of you work so far apart that no matter which of these towns you pick one of you is going to have a really long commute. Is there one of you who is going to be your daughter's chauffeur? That person likely would need to have the shorter commute.

Mike - Not sure. But my wife will likely be working only 3 days a week for a few years and then back to 4. In terms of daughter pickup/dropoff will be shared depending on our mutual schedules.

Originally Posted by Parsec

One thing I can say after many years of driving from Natick to 128 North is that traffic is much worse going from Lexington (Rt-2) towards the Rt-30 exit than it is going from the Rt-30 exit to Rt-2 (Lexington). That trip is 10 minutes in the morning rush hour going North along that 128 stretch between the Pike and Rt-2, but can be twice as long going South. The Pike is a major bottleneck, so living close to the 128/Pike junction either off the Rt-30 or Rt-16 exit would result in optimal commute times for both of you.

For $1mm I would personally live in a "relatively modest" older colonial in Weston or Wellesley Farms, but for your needs it does sound like Wellesley Hills or Newton (Auburndale, West Newton) would fit your lifestyle better.

Parsec - very good points and sort of what I thought. I am also concerned about the pike-rt2 section of 128N during the evening commute. Overall I don't mind a 45-60minute drive; but its consistency that I seek. Currently heading home may take me 55 minutes and then the next day 90minutes +. We will need to look at some of the neighborhoods of Newt/Well that allow quick access to 128.

[Parsec]

Originally Posted by late-start

Thank you for the replies



Mike - Not sure. But my wife will likely be working only 3 days a week for a few years and then back to 4. In terms of daughter pickup/dropoff will be shared depending on our mutual schedules.



Parsec - very good points and sort of what I thought. I am also concerned about the pike-rt2 section of 128N during the evening commute. Overall I don't mind a 45-60minute drive; but its consistency that I seek. Currently heading home may take me 55 minutes and then the next day 90minutes +. We will need to look at some of the neighborhoods of Newt/Well that allow quick access to 128.

Unfortunately the evening commute is trickier. For example, it always took me around 30 minutes to get to Lexington from Natick in the morning rush hour, but coming home could take anywhere from 35 min to 50 min depending on traffic. Morning rush hour is generally more consistent than evening rush hour because everyone is driving from their house to work. Evening rush hour tends to be more random because in addition to people driving from work to home, you have people driving from work to restaurants, people driving from their house to meet up with friends for dinner, students driving from school to God knows where, and people just driving around running errands.

[late-start]

Originally Posted by Parsec

Unfortunately the evening commute is trickier. For example, it always took me around 30 minutes to get to Lexington from Natick in the morning rush hour, but coming home could take anywhere from 35 min to 50 min depending on traffic. Morning rush hour is generally more consistent than evening rush hour because everyone is driving from their house to work. Evening rush hour tends to be more random because in addition to people driving from work to home, you have people driving from work to restaurants, people driving from their house to meet up with friends for dinner, students driving from school to God knows where, and people just driving around running errands.

And then make it a Friday and all hell breaks loose.

[late-start]

Originally Posted by Parsec

For $1mm I would personally live in a "relatively modest" older colonial in Weston or Wellesley Farms, but for your needs it does sound like Wellesley Hills or Newton (Auburndale, West Newton) would fit your lifestyle better.

Why would you prefer WFarms over WHills?

[Parsec]

Originally Posted by late-start

Why would you prefer WFarms over WHills?

WFarms has bigger lots and is quieter. You know those country roads with stone walls separating the front lawn from the pavement? That's what you see at Farms. It feels more like Weston than Wellesley.

WHills has a lot more hustle bustle with Rt-16 and it's possible to walk to stores/restaurants.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by Parsec

WFarms has bigger lots and is quieter. You know those country roads with stone walls separating the front lawn from the pavement? That's what you see at Farms. It feels more like Weston than Wellesley.

WHills has a lot more hustle bustle with Rt-16 and it's possible to walk to stores/restaurants.

Coming straight from Brookline to Wellesley Farms might be a bit of a "shock to the system." Transitioning from such a dense area to such a quiet area can be quite an adjustment. I also wonder if this is the type of environment the OP is looking. A large number of buyers I talk to want a "walkable" location. The sleepy, quiet neighborhoods that were so popular for decades are losing their desirability in the eyes of many younger buyers.