Best housing option for bike commuting near Cambridge (Quincy, Somerville: condo, houses)

[Indyking]

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

I'm starting a new job in Kendall Square - Cambridge, but not relocating until June. I have already got a lot of useful information here, but I decided to start a thread for help with more specifics about my needs.

My first priority is good public schools, my kids are going to 2nd and 4th grade. I also would like to be able to commute by bike most of the year, but access to public transportation during the winter months is important. I would like to keep my commute (bike only or bike + MBTA) up to 45 minutes.

Safety is always very desirable especially because I have kids. I would prefer a nice town with a decent selection of restaurants, shopping, but especially walkable with green areas/parks. I'm planning to buy a house with at least a little bit of a backyard for gardening and some space for the kids. My budget will likely be in the 700K area with little room to go much beyond that.

Any information that can help me will be much appreciated!

[rethcir]

Arlington is probably the best bet.

[Pito_Chueco]

For Kendall Square you should live near the Red Line or you can go to North Station and take the EZ Ride Shuttle. I don't know what kind of house (if any) that you can get in Arlington near the Alewife Station for less than $700K. Another option would be Quincy (it's on the Red Line). You would probably get more house for the money there, but biking to work would not be fun. It will be difficult to find a place that meets all of your requirements. I live near Kendall Square and I happen to love it, but it is not your typical suburban young-family utopia. It is very walkable and there are some nice parks in the area, but you would be lucky to get a 2 bedroom/2 bath condo in your price range.

[Memma]

I posted a similar question a while back, here's the thread //www.city-data.com/forum/massa...cambridge.html


Good luck, will also be following the replies you get )

[Indyking]

Thanks, Memma, I read your entire thread, have you decided where to settle? I want to buy though, not rent, hopefully. Pito_Chueco, Zillow does show a couple of what appears to be decent houses on the 700K range not too far from Alewife.

The obvious choices for bike communing by looking at the map is Brookline, Sommerville, Arlington and Belmont. It looks like biking from these towns will probably take less time than driving and will save me considerable money while exercising. How do these towns compare as far as easy access to Kendall Sq by bike and quality of public schools? They all seem to have decent options in the 700K range by looking at Zillow. Are they not?

[495neighbor]

Consider Bedford also. The Minuteman trail starts there.

[Memma]

I still have some time, but for now I think it will be Brookline, mainly because my oldest will be 9 when we move once you get closer to middle school age the schools are overall better there and I like the descriptions I' read of the neighbourhood. I'll have to get used to a lot less space for the money, but I actually like the challenge of down sizing and not having so much stuff.

[Indyking]

Thanks, Bedford is in my list of good schools but seems like way out there for a decent bike ride to Cambridge.

My oldest will be 9 too when we move next year. She is going to 4th grade, so it looks that's the last elementary school year in MA? I'm starting my job earlier and will travel to Cambridge in some occasions to work until we can relocate in June, so I will have a chance of checking places out.

I'm also going to have to downsize dramatically compared to the house we have now in OH and probably sell a car too. I'm not to worried about it, like you said, it will be a opportunity to get rid of stuff we don't need and less space to keep organized and clean.

[semiurbanite]

Cambridge itself, really. See my previous posts - your kids will get as good of an education in Cambridge or Somerville as the will in Arlington if you stay involved and create a household that is focused on education. However if you would rather your kids peers be from the same socio-economic status as you, then Arlington may work better but would be a longer commute especially in the winter.

[Indyking]

Cambridge would be nice but I don't think I can find a house nearly similar to what I want on my budget.