Moving to Waltham (Boston, Newton, Arlington: rent, Home Depot, to buy)

[divehpu]

I'm considering taking a job in Waltham and we'd like to live in town to have a short commute. We are in a our mid 30s and have a four year old daughter. I'd like to know both positives and negatives re Waltham. Thanks

[jlyang]

Hi,
Waltham has a lot of shops/restaurants/Costco/Home Depot and also has easy public transportation access to Boston via the train or bus. Rents there are reasonable. From Waltham, it is also easy to drive places, since you are right on the Mass Pike, 128/95, and near Route 9. So, overall, Waltham's considered a convenient place to live. Waltham's also next to Watertown, where Russo's, one of the best produce markets in the area, is located.

The public school system there, from what I understand, is ok but not spectacular.

If money were no object and public schools were of paramount importance, then towns within a 20 minute drive to Waltham with excellent schools would include: Newton, Lexington, and Needham.

Good luck!

[MovingForward]

Arlington--specifically, Arlington Heights. I've lived her for over 6 years: great town, safe, decent schools, nice mix of people, super-close to Waltham.

[jayrandom]

Depending on where in Waltham you'll be working, Belmont could also be a very short commute. It's expensive to buy in Belmont, but the rent is reasonable and the schools are good. Watertown also has reasonable rent, but the schools aren't as good as Belmont. In that it actually borders Waltham its closer than Needham and Arlington. Lexington and Newton also both border Waltham, as do Weston and Watertown.

We lived in Waltham for a year and found it nice enough, but I'm not picky and don't have kids. Some areas are very nice, especially near Bentley College (there are other areas that are nice, too, that's just the one I know about). Wherever you live in Waltham you'll have a very easy commute to anywhere else in Waltham--it's not really that big a city.