Arlington, Winchester, Newton or somewhere else? Help needed! (Boston, Worcester: condo, landscaping)

[Kitty Shark]

Interesting, Semiurbanite! Could you give me some more details about what your friends shared with you? Did they tell you what made them concerned?

[WaylandMassachusetts]

I dont feel like Arlington, Newton nor salem would be an ideal pick for you.

Cons:
Arlington is depressing
Newton is depressing
Salem is also depressing
Newton is expensive
Salem has bad schools, I mean awful
Newton has HUGE SCHOOLS (Not good if you have special needs kids)
None of them are next to the ocean

Pros:
Arlington has good schools
Newton has good/meh schools
Salem has a nice downtown and rich history
All of the above have all the necessary facilities (School, Hospitals, Gas stations, etc.)

Solution:
Look into Acton, Cambridge, Natick, Lexington, Plymouth, Hull and cape cod.

[wolfgang239]

Arlington, Newton and Salem are so depressing that they are some of the most desirable towns in the area. Care to explain that one?

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by WaylandMassachusetts

I dont feel like Arlington, Newton nor salem would be an ideal pick for you.

Cons:
Arlington is depressing
Newton is depressing
Salem is also depressing
Newton is expensive
Salem has bad schools, I mean awful
Newton has HUGE SCHOOLS (Not good if you have special needs kids)
None of them are next to the ocean

Originally Posted by wolfgang239

Arlington, Newton and Salem are so depressing that they are some of the most desirable towns in the area. Care to explain that one?

I'm more interested in why Salem is no longer next to the ocean.

[timberline742]

Arlington is depressing, but Natick is desirable?

Is this opposite world!?

And poor Salem losing the Atlantic, that's some mighty witchcraft..

[brienzi]

Originally Posted by BrooklineBiker

Winchester is terrible for public transit & driving into Boston especially in winter

Why do you think Winchester is terrible for public transit? They have a stop for the commuter rail right in town. For someone who just needs to go to Boston and back Winchester would be an ideal choice. Great safe town with good schools. Pricey yes, but is a town and not a city.

And yes forget Salem and some other mentioned places.

Manchester by the sea is cool but a much longer commute via rail into beantown than winchester. Good luck OP and hope u find what u need via this thread.

Another vote for winchester is that's it's close to Top shopping areas like the Burlington Mall and new places built right off 128 by wakefield. Another good town with commuter rail options is Wakefield and a very diverse downtown. Check out Wakefield which neighbors Winchester.

[timberline742]

Burlington Mall is a top shopping area? When did that happen? Did it get a complete overhaul?

Salem is great, except for the schools. That would be a dealbreaker.

[brienzi]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Burlington Mall is a top shopping area? When did that happen? Did it get a complete overhaul?

Salem is great, except for the schools. That would be a dealbreaker.

Unless u live under a rock The Burlington Mall is a top shopping area..never mind the new Wegmans and other commercial construction under way around the 3rd ave area in Burlington which is basically across the street from the Burlington Mall.

I guess it comes down what u consider a top shopping area. Sounds to me the OP has money and may prefer to shop at places like Macy's or other great places the Burlington mall offers.

Or they can visit the 3rd ave area that i mentioned which is a more open shopping area. Not a closed mall type. Just trying to grind my gears timberline742? Whatever, clearly by your quote about the mall u are and that's cool..

And Salem is great except for the number of herion addicts that live there, the number of homeless people who have no place to go. Have u been to Salem recently? I work there almost once a week as my employer owns a huge chunk of RE there and find the needles, see the homeless and understand the area.

So tell me what else do u have to say about Salem as u seem to know much about the place and why the
the Burlington Mall is so bad. I'm curious as the OP may be too. If your flaming just say it and be done with it as i don't want any part of that.

[Thomas144]

There are actually two separate commuter rail stops in Winchester (Winchester Center and Wedgemere) plus busses, plus easy access by car to Wellington on the Orange line or Alewife on the Red line. We've lived there since 1990 - I have no idea what that comment about Winchester's access to public transportation was based on.

It's also a very short drive into Boston, although traffic obviously becomes an issue. I once timed myself when dropping off my son at the bus terminal at South Station on a Saturday morning (when there is no traffic) and did the round trip in under 25 minutes.

[brienzi]

Originally Posted by Thomas144

There are actually two separate commuter rail stops in Winchester (Winchester Center and Wedgemere) plus busses, plus easy access by car to Wellington on the Orange line or Alewife on the Red line. We've lived there since 1990 - I have no idea what that comment about Winchester's access to public transportation was based on.

It's also a very short drive into Boston, although traffic obviously becomes an issue. I once timed myself when dropping off my son at the bus terminal at South Station on a Saturday morning (when there is no traffic) and did the round trip in under 25 minutes.

Me either but your spot on in your post.