Moving to MA (Boston, Springfield, Cambridge: houses, good schools, college)

[bethismoving]

Hi! I'm moving to the Boston area and my husband and I have narrowed the list down to Arlington and Marblehead (also possibly Wakefield and Swampscott). Which is better for raising a family while working in Boston? Marblehead seems adorable but is it worth the longer commute to the Longwood Medical Area?
Thanks for any input,
Beth :-)

[brightdoglover]

No.
It's just too inconvenient.
I personally would choose Arlington, easy access by public to Longwood, great family town, city vibe in East Arlington as far as restaurants and a wonderful movie house (that had a lot of good kids' stuff). A lot of people seem to move to Arlington when they have kids and can't afford Cambridge.
Swampscott is equally inconvenient to Boston as Marblehead. They are both lovely towns, but not sure if they'd be worth the commute.
Wakefield seems like a great area for families and is fairly close to roads to Longwood, although I think traffic could be significant in normal business hours. Longwood is sort of cross-town from the north of Boston, and the last few blocks or so can make or break a commute. It's not the distance on highway to Boston, it's driving across or around the city itself.
Arlington, or Wakefield for a more suburban feel.
Visit Marblehead on a day off. Singing Beach is wonderful, and maybe less than an hour from any north-of-Boston town.
Best wishes- you have some neat choices.

[bethismoving]

thanks for the input! :-)

[hudsonma]

Choose Arlington or another area close to where you will be working. The commute time from the north shore can run you 1.5 hours each way on an average day. There's alot to do and everything is close by in Arlington. I hate spending 3 hours aday driving back and forth to work in Boston. Heed my warning!

[MichelleLane]

Marblehead and Swampscott are both lovely, but the commute would be horrendous. I don't know your budget, but it would seem that Brookline or Newton make the most sense in terms of getting to Longwood. Newton has more houses, so might be better for a family. Brookline has lots of families but also lots of college kids. Both have excellent schools. Specifically, in Newton, you should look at the Chestnut Hill, Center, Highlands and Waban villages as they are all on the T line so commutable to Longwood without a car. Let me know if you have any questions as I live in Newton.

[DreamworksSKG]

Why do people insist on driving into the city? Clogging up the roads more hwen you have clean public transportation right there

Arlington would have "T" access right to Longwood medical area, as would Wakefield - Wakefield would have commuter rail into North Station, and a connection to the "T from there, as would Marblehead.
You can live almost any town with commuter rail service. - and zip in and out of Boston without the headaches of Boston traffic

Ipswich might be another community to look into
good schools, great beach community , but still a smaller town feel
convenient to everywhere on the North Shore
and commuter rail into town
----------------------------------------------------------------------

[bethismoving]

Thanks for the input. No, I have no plans for drving into Boston. It's bus or commuter rail for me. Has anyone taken the bus from Marblehead to haymarket? How about the Swampscott commuter line? Oh and I rented in brookline out ofcollege and I love that town but it's way too exspensive. If I could get a 3br in Brookline for <380 I'd move in a heartbeat.

[Cliff Clavin]

Originally Posted by bethismoving

Has anyone taken the bus from Marblehead to haymarket?

I used to take the 449 bus from Marblehead to downtown crossing (Otis and Summer Streets). Not recommended. On a good day, you're looking at and hour and 15. If it snows? Forget about it. Then you have the heroin addicts that board at Central Sq in Lynn. I kid you not, these guys would pass out and fall on the bus floor, and the bus driver would have to stop the bus and pick them up. One guy fell down the stairs head first and had his head and arm hanging out the rear door as the bus was going down the Lynnway. It was a scene.

I did that for 2 years, then moved in town.

[DreamworksSKG]

Just take the commuter rail its much easier. goes into North Station from there you could take a cab or connect to the Subway "T"
there's always cabs in front of the Garden by the West Entrance

[preciousgemz3]

I am strongly considering moving to Mass. My sister lives in Berkshire. I was just there for the first time and thought it was beautiful. However, coming from Central Florida the weather is a bit of a concern, although I am originally from NY, but it has been many years since I have endured a hard northern winter. My greatest concern is relocating to a city fairly close to Berskshire that has good schools, it relatively safe, and offers me a chance to start over. Even more important, job opportunities in the health care field, although I know its tough everywhere right now. I have seen Pittsfield and Springfield Mass. and although it has some nice areas, I mainly found it to be an industrial part of town. Can anyone offer some advice as to a city that might fill these needs for a single mom making a fresh start and looking to be close to family in Berkshire. Though, I love the idea of living in a more rural setting, I also like the idea of the convenience of still being close enough to town for shopping, school and recreation. Thanks!