Commute to Waltham, live where? (Peabody, Arlington: section 8, apartment, rent)

[missionhill]

Providence is a smaller version of Boston with comparable walkability, urban amenity and socioeconomic profile although, at the high end, maybe more old money than new money. All places are different from one another but a person can move to Providence without giving up much of what she likes about living in Boston-Cambridge-Somerville. But I don’t see Providence as workable with a job in Waltham. Lowell is much more accessible to Waltham. It’s no Providence but it has a lot going for it, including an arts and culture scene, and would have more to offer younger single professionals than Marlborough. I think the downtown area is pretty walkable and that’s where the nicer loft apartments are located. Some of the refurbished mill complexes and surrounding public spaces in Lowell are architecturally handsome and it has the amenity of its canals and frontage along the Merrimack river.

[Japanfan1986]

I work mostly out of Waltham too. I live there currently, but rents are too high. I currently rent a studio for $1275 per month. My lease is up at the end of April and I don’t plan on renewing. I’m currently thinking about renting a room in Lowell or Salem then getting a house in one of the two areas in a couple years. Lowell has some crime problems, but is gentrifying to a degree and though the university has been buying up property, rents are still pretty low even in the nicer areas.

I used to live in Braintree and the commute is the same or better to either Lowell or Salem. I’m not home that much anyway as I generally work over 80 hours per week, so paying half as much so I can save more for a house makes more sense.

[tysmith95]

Originally Posted by missionhill

Providence is a smaller version of Boston with comparable walkability, urban amenity and socioeconomic profile although, at the high end, maybe more old money than new money. All places are different from one another but a person can move to Providence without giving up much of what she likes about living in Boston-Cambridge-Somerville.

Oh Providence is nice, I agree with that, but there is definitely a lot more money in the boston-cambridge-somerville area. There is a reason why rents are 2-3x as much in Boston, that's where all of the good jobs are.

And I guess you could compare college hill to parts of Cambridge. But there is nothing in Providence as wealthy as Beacon Hill or the Back Bay. Or if you're looking at the suburbs there is nothing in RI as wealthy as Brookline, Wellesley, Weston, etc.

RI has brown, a few hospitals, and CVS but it's not close to the economic powerhouse that the Boston area is.

[rethcir]

Originally Posted by tysmith95

But there is nothing in Providence as wealthy as Beacon Hill or the Back Bay. Or if you're looking at the suburbs there is nothing in RI as wealthy as Brookline, Wellesley, Weston, etc.

Newport

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by rethcir

Newport

Newport is 45 minutes away... Not really a suburb. Though some do commute.

[Louisville Slugger]

Originally Posted by Japanfan1986

I’m not home that much anyway as I generally work over 80 hours per week, so paying half as much so I can save more for a house makes more sense.

That's crazy. The money better be worth it, heh.

[tysmith95]

Originally Posted by rethcir

Newport

Newport per capita income: 35,644.

Weston per capita income: 105,217.

Sure Newport has a bunch of summer homes for the rich. But I wonder if lots of those people aren't counted on the census because Newport is not their primary home.

[Japanfan1986]

Originally Posted by Louisville Slugger

That's crazy. The money better be worth it, heh.

It could always be more

[Louisville Slugger]

Originally Posted by Japanfan1986

It could always be more

Yeah, but you never get that time back.

There's always a happy medium. Personally I could never do that, but to each their own.

[495neighbor]

I think you will bored out of your mind in Marlborough and worn out by the commute. I looked at some of those apartments in Marlborough when I working out there and wasn't impressed with the crowd in some of those buildings. Bad neighbors can result in as much stress as bad roommates, IMO. If you must go suburban, Maynard or Hudson would be a little better and happening and an easier commute, but you will still be surrounded by young families, not singles and couples so much. If you could up your budget a few hundred, I think you could squeeze into Arlington or Melrose, where you would find a more mature crowd and still be close enough to the city to enjoy it. Have you considered a situation where you would live with only one roommate or renting an in-law apartment of a family home? More manageable than multiple roomies I think.