Commuting to East Cambridge

[CambridgeBound2]

Thanks all. If we stretch the budget to 650, will that help?
Thanks for the suggestion of Burlington, we'll look into it.
So the short list is Bedford, Melrose, Reading, Andover, Burlington. Best commute among these is Melrose. Best schools is Bedford and Andover. Am I correct?
Thanks!

[Beantown_mama]

You can also look for a town that has a commuter rail that goes into North Station and take the EZ Ride shuttle to Lechmere.

[kingeorge]

Bedford prices are going nuts this spring. You will have very slim pickings there. It was a sleeper town with a great potential that finally got "discovered", it seems.

In Boston high cost area RE game it will all about compromises. Even triple your budgets do not get everything on their wishlist.

Figure out what comes first: schools, commute, space or going to Andover; and then go from there. E.g. you could still get smaller but decent SF in Arlington in your price range, older less updated house in Bedford, little bit better house in Reading (another sleeper that is steadily increasing in RE prices) or OK older place in Andover.

With your budget you can still buy even in most sought after towns, but it will not get huge new SF, it will be older smaller place, and in need of sprucing up. Or you can get well appointed 3 or 4 bed condo if that something you can compromise on to, to stay close to Cambridge, your job, and still get excellent schools.

Bedford and Andover are better regarded, but Reading is very good as well. Be careful where you land for commute sake and especially if you do not have free parking at work.

Good luck.