Sort of baby related! Where do you live?

Franco*Filly

I am a NJ nestie but will be moving to MA this year. I have a 3.5 year old and a 1.5 month old...and we need to be near Cambridge for my husband's job. The problem is we don't know what towns to look at---we looked at Reading and Wakefield and liked the area..but we need to come up a few more times and look at more towns. We prefer suburban living as we have lived in major cities already and are over it... and I know nothing about MA.

So this leads me to my question: where do you live, and do you like it? Is it family friendly?

I tried the regular board, but it seems a lot quieter than it used to be! Figured since my question was related to kids in a round about way, I'd post here.

TIA!!

anniebugg

Hi -- I live in Sudbury but work in Cambridge. I don't recommend it -- Sudbury is a great town, but it's a tough commute to Cambridge (90 minutes). We moved from Arlington, which I do recommend. It's a nice community and it's a very short commute to Cambridge by public transportation or car; you should add it to your list. I have friends and co-workers who live in Reading and Wakefield and commute to Cambridge, they like it (family friendly) and the commute isn't too bad. 

ngzmorse

Franco*Filly:

I am a NJ nestie but will be moving to MA this year. I have a 3.5 year old and a 1.5 month old...and we need to be near Cambridge for my husband's job. The problem is we don't know what towns to look at---we looked at Reading and Wakefield and liked the area..but we need to come up a few more times and look at more towns. We prefer suburban living as we have lived in major cities already and are over it... and I know nothing about MA.

So this leads me to my question: where do you live, and do you like it? Is it family friendly?

I tried the regular board, but it seems a lot quieter than it used to be! Figured since my question was related to kids in a round about way, I'd post here.

TIA!!

My fam and I live in Melrose and we love it.  We've been here almost 3 years and it's a small city but it still has activities going on, and has a nice, downtown that's walkable from most areas of town.  There are also three commuter rail stations and 1 T (subway) station, and plenty of buses.  There is a lot of support for new moms...free moms' group, free breastfeeding group, free playgroups and from what I understand, decent schools.  Good luck! 

Franco*Filly

Thank yoU!

My husband might drive to work---he'd be at work by 730 am. If we lived in either Reading or Wakefield and he was on the road by 630 am do you know if the commute to Cambridge would be horrendous? We live in NJ, so we know how bad traffic is, but if it would take like 1.5 hrs to drive, that's pretty bad--he'd be better off taking the train. I am just not sure how "bad" the traffic is on the highways in MA--like what are the really bad commuting hours?

boxtonmom1014

I second Arlington. It's a great town with lots of family friendly stuff to do.

NineTwentyOhEight

Franco*Filly:

Thank yoU!

My husband might drive to work---he'd be at work by 730 am. If we lived in either Reading or Wakefield and he was on the road by 630 am do you know if the commute to Cambridge would be horrendous? We live in NJ, so we know how bad traffic is, but if it would take like 1.5 hrs to drive, that's pretty bad--he'd be better off taking the train. I am just not sure how "bad" the traffic is on the highways in MA--like what are the really bad commuting hours?

Hi! I have lived in Arlington and now live in Reading. We really loved Arlington, but houses were more expensive there. Are you going to be buying or renting at first? I worked in Cambridge and now work in Medford, but very close to Cambridge/Somerville.

Your H's commute will depend on where in Cambridge he is going I think. I drive in every morning - we leave by 6:30am and I am in Medford at work by 7 am (but I go to the gym first as it is right at work). I think you're nuts to take the highway in the morning, traffic starts after six and just gets worse. I think if you leave before 7 and take back roads (route 28 is main st in Reading and goes right down through Malden/Medford and into Somerville and Cambridge, super easy) you will have better luck.

Also, I cannot say enough good things about Reading. We have lived there for almost 2 years and we love it. I joined the Reading Neighbors and Newcomers which is a great way to meet people, esp moms, etc. I am prob the youngest member and we are the only ones w/out kids yet (but we're working on it).

The schools in Reading are top-notch too. The commuter rail is also super convenient...

The downtown is really cute, lots of great local restaurants and small shops, etc. Plus, it's a great town in terms of proximity to highways, etc.

If you have other questions, I'm usually on the Sept 08 board on the knot :-)

Good luck!

jlove1821

Hi .. I live in Woburn. I think its a good location with lots of things around and not bad of a commute to boston.

cvl105

Hi! I'm from NJ originally too! Where do you live? I grew up in Sussex County...my parents still live there.

We live in Tewksbury, probably about 20 minutes from Cambridge without traffic. My husband commutes into Boston every day.  There is definitely traffic on 93 every day...but most days it's moving. Reading, Wilmington, Stoneham, and Winchester are all nice towns in the vicinity too.