Arlington or Brookline for commutes to Cambridge and downtown/Fenway in Boston (apartment)

[newhavengal]

Hi,
My husband and I both work, and we will be commuting to Cambridge and downtown Boston or Fenway, respectively, using public transportation. Do you think that Brookline or Arlington offer the best commutes for both of us?

[brightdoglover]

I assume you mean by public transport?
Brookline to Cambridge, while only a few miles, is a mess cross-town. You usually have to take the train into Park Street and then out again (Red or Green). Depending on where the Cambridge job is, public from Arlington is fine. As for Fenway, public from Brookline is easier, but certainly not a big deal regardless. I'd go with Arlington.

[newhavengal]

Yes, by public transportation. Just amended by original post above. Thanks!

[jellybean23]

Theoretically they both could work, but you really need to know the exact locations you need to go to in order to figure out what would work best if you are relying on public transit. For example, if you need to go to Fenway and Central Square, you are probably best off in the north part of Brookline and use buses and/or green line. If you need to go to Porter Square and Downtown Boston, you are probably better off in East Arlington and commute via red line from Alewife.

[kingeorge]

^^^+1. Arlington, especially East Arlington near Alewife station should be fine for both of you.

[brightdoglover]

Yes, East Arlington. The Fenway worker could take the Mass. Ave bus all the way down to Fenway.
If you keep a car, both Brookline and Arlington require off-street parking from 2a-6a, I think it is, so no difference there (although it's easier to find said off-street parking in Arlington, I think. I have tough memories of my car days in Brookline when living in big old apartment buildings with no parking available. I found Arlington much easier.

[semiurbanite]

Why not Cambridge Itself?

[newhavengal]

Not Cambridge itself because schools for our kids at this point (we move in Sept) would be a lottery, and we would like to know where the kids would go to school and that they could go together.

[G-fused]

I'm in Brookline. We love it here for many reasons. If you are talking only commute however, Arlington probably wins (depending on the exact T stops that you need - as others said). Getting to Cambridge by T from Brookline can be a pain. I personally would bike it.

Best of luck.