living in boston subarb and public commuting to Mansfield and Framingham (Worcester: apartment, rental)

[soubhratra]

I am working in Framingham (Staples HQ) and my wife just got a job in Mansfield (covidien) but she does not know driving. we are planning to live close to boston city so that she can take providence train line and I can take worcester train line. As an alternative I can take newly introduced green line (route 1) bus between Woodland T Stop (Greenline) and Framigham (though I am not sure if thats possible considering both will take public commute). We are looking for an apartment building/complex close to commute and a daycare near by for our 15 month baby. Considering we both are taking public commute and want a city life (living without a car) which place will be the best to stay? It will be better if that place is closer to her commute.

We are looking a inexpensive but peaceful locality.

senior members - please let me know your suggestions.

Thanks.

[CaseyB]

Does Covidien have a shuttle that she could take from the train? If not, I don't know how she would get there without a car. It's located in an office park - I know there is at least 1 daycare facility close.

[ogre]

Something that would help would be if you can get specific about what you mean by "inexpensive." If people here know the approximate rent or mortgage you want to pay, they'll have a better idea which areas have properties for those prices. Areas that might work would be neighborhoods near the red line in Cambridge and Somerville. Also, the east side of Arlington puts you close to the red line stop at Alewife station. Another reason Arlington might be a good choice is that its housing costs are more moderate than you'll find in many areas, though nothing anywhere close to Boston is likely to be really cheap. From Cambridge, Somerville, or Arlington's east side (the rest of Arlington would be farther from the red line), you can take the red line to South Station and take commuter trains to both towns you're working in.

Other areas to check out might be the South End and the Back Bay right in Boston, and Brookline, especially around the Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village neighborhoods. Back Bay and Brookline are served by the green line, which would get you to Woodland. Your wife would have to transfer to the red line to ride to South Station for the commuter train, but it's a fairly short ride on the green line to reach the transfer to the red line, so this might work timewise even if it would not be the most simple commute. The part of the South End close to Copley Square would give you access to the Worcester commuter rail line at Back Bay Station, and your wife a short ride on the orange line to a transfer to the red line that goes to South Station. Back Bay and the South End are right in the central city, with rowhouses and the like, and no yards. Brookline is densely populated suburban with some areas that have a bit of an urban feel. All these areas are costly, but, depending again on what you mean by "inexpensive," any of them might have the occasional rental property that is not ridiculously expensive. Worth checking into at least, because of the central location. But look especially closely at locations near the red line in Cambridge, Somerville, and east Arlington.

[scarletfire]

Here are the trains that run "outbound" from Boston to Framingham:

MBTA Commuter Rail > Framingham / Worcester Lines Schedules and Maps

However, Staples is too far from the Framingham train station to walk. Do they offer a shuttle from the train station?

[justin deedy]

living in Shrewsbury,commute to Boston