Commuting from Salem, MA to Waltham, MA (Boston, Newburyport: house prices, buying)

[hifromma617]

Hi all! I’ve seen a lot of threads about the dreadful 128/95 commute. A lot of these threads are over 10 years old so I was wondering if anyone had insight or any other ways of getting from the North Shore to Waltham? I am a college student and just accepted a job offer and I really need the experience/title. I’m not sure of the exact hours as the company seems quite flexible with times. The commute is really making me reconsider although I’ve already accepted the offer. I can move closer to Waltham, but with current house prices I would rather wait on that if I can.

[OutdoorLover]

I have only done it pre-pandemic, but I have commuted from Newburyport to Waltham and traffic on Rte 128 was really bad for a highway. I mean, you still do what you gotta do, and I did it for about a year back then (10 years ago).

[Boston Shudra]

Yeah, it's not a great commute. Silver lining is that you can at least take the 1 highway directly between them without having to worry about switching. Going between 93 and 95 in particular is soul crushing.

Bit confused about the cost of housing argument, though. Isn't it just as bad in Salem as it is in Waltham (or Allston/Brighton maybe as a close but cheaper alternative)? Are you living at home right now?

Another note after looking again at your post: if the company is flexible on start/end times, then that makes the commute much much better. There's always a decent amount of traffic on 128 in my experience but it only gets truly bumper-to-bumper at certain times of day.

[Remy11]

I’m not going to sugar coat—128 is soul crushing. Much like you, I did that commute when I was younger and trying to build my resume after college. I think you’re doing the right thing by paying your dues while you have energy and youth on your side because you couldn’t pay me to do it now. In hindsight, I’m glad I did it when I was 15-20 years younger and had more spring in my step so I could get good experience under my belt and eventually find work closer to home.

[simplexsimon]

Find someplace really cheap in Waltham, live like a student a few more years and build up that resume and financial cushion. Your future self will thank you.

[P Larsen]

The worst part is that traversing the winding local roads - with lots of turns required - between Salem and the highway is even worse than the highway. Especially in winter when local roads are narrowed by walls of icy snow. If you think of the radial highway divisions around Boston as if they were wedges of a grapefruit, each additional wedge you need to cross through or by is another turn in Purgatory, because there is a thick traffic membrane and seeds at each major junction point.

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by P Larsen

The worst part is that traversing the winding local roads - with lots of turns required - between Salem and the highway is even worse than the highway. Especially in winter when local roads are narrowed by walls of icy snow. If you think of the radial highway divisions around Boston as if they were wedges of a grapefruit, each additional wedge you need to cross through or by is another turn in Purgatory, because there is a thick traffic membrane and seeds at each major junction point.

Good analogy. I'm surprised at how often Waze steers me into impossible left turns, when it takes me through back roads like that. You can waste a lot of time waiting for an opening to turn safely, all the while incurring the wrath of drivers behind you.

[P Larsen]

It pays to have driven manual transmission for many years, as you develop street/road instincts about how to keep moving and avoid riding the clutch being stuck in a waiting position. Those skills make a huge difference here. It may help explain why, the first time I went to Rome (Italy, not NY), the driving culture was quite intelligible to me.

[hifromma617]

Originally Posted by Boston Shudra

Yeah, it's not a great commute. Silver lining is that you can at least take the 1 highway directly between them without having to worry about switching. Going between 93 and 95 in particular is soul crushing.

Bit confused about the cost of housing argument, though. Isn't it just as bad in Salem as it is in Waltham (or Allston/Brighton maybe as a close but cheaper alternative)? Are you living at home right now?

Another note after looking again at your post: if the company is flexible on start/end times, then that makes the commute much much better. There's always a decent amount of traffic on 128 in my experience but it only gets truly bumper-to-bumper at certain times of day.

Thank you!! Yes, I literally get anxiety thinking about 93 to 95. I purchased a home in Salem literally right before COVID so I got lucky, but I can't stand living here because of how far it is from everything. I just can't justify buying right now as much as I would love to!!

[hifromma617]

Originally Posted by Remy11

I’m not going to sugar coat—128 is soul crushing. Much like you, I did that commute when I was younger and trying to build my resume after college. I think you’re doing the right thing by paying your dues while you have energy and youth on your side because you couldn’t pay me to do it now. In hindsight, I’m glad I did it when I was 15-20 years younger and had more spring in my step so I could get good experience under my belt and eventually find work closer to home.

Thank you so much!!!!