What are the good suburbs with good schools and affordable housing (Boston: apartments, luxury)

[sensfan2020]

Hi all,

I am starting a new job in Cambridge, Kendall Square area. We are a family of 3 with a 4 year child. Kindly suggest good suburbs to find a 2 bedroom apartment with good schools in the area. I am OK to commute up to 60 minutes each way. Our budget is $3000/month including utilities. Thanks in advance!

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by sensfan2020

Hi all,

I am starting a new job in Cambridge, Kendall Square area. We are a family of 3 with a 4 year child. Kindly suggest good suburbs to find a 2 bedroom apartment with good schools in the area. I am OK to commute up to 60 minutes each way. Our budget is $3000/month including utilities. Thanks in advance!

This is virtually a ubiquitous request on this forum. I'd definitely urge you to search other threads where this is addressed. Having said that, you'll want to look along the MBTA Red Line for the most painless commute. Anything else will require a change of trains and/or a soul-crushing drive with the further burden of finding / paying for parking in Kendall.

[yesmaybe]

South Acton is what came to mind.

[johngolf]

I understand wanting good schools as your nipper ages but I believe your primary interest at this point should be your job and your commute. Until a child is in the 3rd or 4th grade, most all schools are good. Thus I say the final decision as to where to live for good schools is 4 to 5 years away for you. Get situated/comfortable in the new job and learn about the area before committing.

You did not mentions your spouse's career/job. This could play a role.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

South Acton is what came to mind.

A 2 BR apartment should be findable without having to go out as far as Acton. There are probably some apartments in Cambridge or Brookline for that price, even if they're not luxury apartments.

You could also look in towns like Melrose, Arlington and Burlington.

[masssachoicetts]

Literally everywhere in Mass is a good suburb (Bar like 4), however, affordability and ease to Kendall Square is a little different.

I know a lot of people who have settled and work in Kendall. I think Arlington is a good choice, since its more affordable than Somerville or Cambridge, yet close. you can drive/walk to Alewife, and then take the train to Kendall/MIT.

Another option is Marlborough MA or Hudson, MA.

[yesmaybe]

Arlington also came to mind, but I don't know about the schools and I wouldn't really call it a suburb. One good thing about Arlington is that it would be easy to get to the Red Line but would be an OK commute to the burb jobs in Burlington and Waltham if OP needs another job.

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Another option is Marlborough MA or Hudson, MA.

Commute to Kendall would be way over an hour. Not really feasible. Marlborough's schools are also likely bad.

[bugelrex]

You'll be surprised that even though kendall is a MAJOR driver in jobs growth for Boston, the public transportation into it are shockingly difficult unless you live on the red line.

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Literally everywhere in Mass is a good suburb (Bar like 4), however, affordability and ease to Kendall Square is a little different.

And compared to the rest of the country, those 4 are very average. Worcester is somewhere in the 49th to 51st percentile countrywide.

And "affordable" means something very different when OP says $3k/mo.....

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by bugelrex

You'll be surprised that even though kendall is a MAJOR driver in jobs growth for Boston, the public transportation into it are shockingly difficult unless you live on the red line.

That's because back in the day people drove in although there are probably a lot who do the Fitchburg Line -> Porter -> Kendall route.