Boston suburb suggestions

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by nicole.cpp

Does anyone here commute from somewhere coastal to Cambridge? Places like Quincy and even Salem look pretty cool, but it looks like at least an hour commitment for each (and, of course, the money).

I recall the red line being a slow sardine can in summer, so I can't imagine winter...

Yes during rush hour it's about an hour to Quincy. The train to Salem leaves out of North station which isn't that convenient to Kendall. Salem is in Zone 3 so the monthly pass costs $222 a month (your employer might subsidize it).

If I had to choose between Salem and Quincy I'd pick Quincy because it's a much easier commute and very easy to go into Boston on days off.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by nicole.cpp

Does anyone here commute from somewhere coastal to Cambridge? Places like Quincy and even Salem look pretty cool, but it looks like at least an hour commitment for each (and, of course, the money).

I recall the red line being a slow sardine can in summer, so I can't imagine winter...

If you were working in Kendall not the other side of Cambridge, the Kendall commute wouldn't be too bad from Salem. Just a commuter rail ride to North Station and then there are frequent shuttles back over to Kendall from North Station. (I learned this from another C-D frequent poster.)

Since you said you were working in Discovery Park (former Acorn Park) you would have to take the shuttle to Kendall from North station and then catch the red line from Kendall and take it all the way to Alewife, then walk or take a shuttle from Alewife to the final destination. OR, go to North Station, then take the green or orange subway to the red line and then go all the way to Alewife from there.

Too complicated for me. And probably would end up being 2 hours each way with all the connections.


Quincy on one of the red line stops is going to be much less complicated. Possibly less than an hour if you get an earlier train.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by Dm84

Yes during rush hour it's about an hour to Quincy. The train to Salem leaves out of North station which isn't that convenient to Kendall. Salem is in Zone 3 so the monthly pass costs $222 a month (your employer might subsidize it).

On top of that she has said she is working on the other side of Cambridge, near Alewife.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

On top of that she has said she is working on the other side of Cambridge, near Alewife.

I missed that. OP would be best off living in Cambridge or the immediate suburbs then.