Anyone live is suburbs south of Boston?

[House4Me]

Curious if anyone lives in Hingham? Or any towns near that? Considering a work relocation to Cambridge. I heard amazing things about Hingham but have never seen the area before... Advice? 

[rikki]

I do. I live in the town next to Hingham. Want to PM me?

[LoveTrains]

I don't think i would mind a south shore commute if I could drive to a red line stop that was close - don't they have big garages in quincy? - or if there was a short-ish commuter train ride. Because at least if you take the commuter line into south station its an easy trip ont he red line to some place like kendall square.

[House4Me]

Sept 25, 2014 14:33:08 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

I don't think i would mind a south shore commute if I could drive to a red line stop that was close - don't they have big garages in quincy? - or if there was a short-ish commuter train ride. Because at least if you take the commuter line into south station its an easy trip ont he red line to some place like kendall square.

Yes I figured the car could park at Quincy station and then take the red line all the way in to Kendall Square. Where do most people live that have families with young kids that work in Cambridge? We would really like to buy a house that's not older than the Titanic or will break the bank. 

[preppy]

My brother lives in Hingham and commutes to Cambridge. It takes him about an hour and he is an easy walk to the commuter rail. It's doable but not fun. It's a beautiful town and had great schools, we are hoping to move there when we have kids.

[lizlemon19]

my mother currently lives in Hingham. It is a wealthy town, and getting more. "built up." There is now a commuter rail and a commuter boat, but getting to Cambridge seems like a pain.

[LoveTrains]

Sept 25, 2014 17:45:24 GMT -5 House4Me said:

Sept 25, 2014 14:33:08 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

I don't think i would mind a south shore commute if I could drive to a red line stop that was close - don't they have big garages in quincy? - or if there was a short-ish commuter train ride. Because at least if you take the commuter line into south station its an easy trip ont he red line to some place like kendall square.

Yes I figured the car could park at Quincy station and then take the red line all the way in to Kendall Square. Where do most people live that have families with young kids that work in Cambridge? We would really like to buy a house that's not older than the Titanic or will break the bank. 

Well I live in pvd ( so keep that in mind) but my H works in Boston. Tons of people get on the commuter rail in places like Mansfield. I think you can find homes newer than the titanic there. I have no idea on price. It's probably eat least an hour to Cambridge from there though. There are a few commuter train lines so I would look along all of them. The traffic is probably terrible to Quincy.

[no0b]

I currently commute to Boston from the South Shore. Public transportation is wonderful however, it takes me about 1.5 hours 1 way if everything goes smoothly. IF I drove it would be much longer. Also, keep in mind, the great/terrible thing about certain areas of the south shore is that they are a bit more secluded. It takes me at least 15 minutes to get to a highway. I have considered opportunities in Cambridge but heck no. FWIW, I live right in the area you are speaking of.

Hingham is gorgeous though, but honestly, I think the commute to Cambridge would get old fast (and this is coming from someone that has always commuted close to an hour).

[cinnamoncox]

That'll be a hell of a commute. If you have flexible schedule and could go in outside of typical rush hour, might be a speck better. Although in my experience, rush "hour" is more like rush three hours+, so I think it will be a drag. But depending on your desire to live in H and work in C, maybe you won't mind.
Belmont, Arlington, maaaaybe Somerville (pricey, but I just saw the schools are in the top 15% in the state now so that's good!). I grew up there and went to parochial, because the public schools at that time were most certainly not in the top 15%, by a long shot. But it's coming up!

[LoveTrains]

I think the problem with the route 2 corridor is that the towns are kind of pricey for buying a home. I know that I would be personally locked out of buying a SFH in Arlington, Belmont, Lexington, Bedford & Concord. But those are the breaks with the Boston area - its HCOL so the closer towns are all going to be $$$ and it gets cheaper with a longer commute.

[House4Me]

All really great info! Thanks ladies. I have researched Arlington -- the commute is so short in comparison. I might research those towns mentioned above again. Thanks!

[lizlemon19]

Sept 26, 2014 9:47:06 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Honestly I think Hingham is on par pricewise with those towns. Aside from Cohasset, its probably the most $$$ town on the South Shore.

agreed. I would only commute from hingham if I had an off-hours commute (like worked 2nd shift) or if it were the southie/financial district area.

[bryantpark]

The problem with commuting to Cambridge from north of Boston is that you most likely have to drive. So long as you are committed to that there are a lot of options. It's just not many of them include a train. If you really do work in Kendall then living somewhere on the redline South isn't a bad idea but if you live north you're stuck in your car.

Blame the hub and spoke.

[imimahoney]

If you don't mind driving in then north of Boston near the city like Medford, Stoneham, Melrose and Winchester are great options. All super close nice towns with schools ranging from amazing (Winchester) to decent/ok (Medford). Only downside is that the market is still crazy hot and very very competitive. Most homes on Stoneham, Melrose and Winchester go within days of hitting the market for at least asking. The drive would be in traffic but your so close that it wouldn't be too bad.

The Medford line neighboring Stoneham/Melrose line is very nice and more affordable than those actual towns. If you don't mind the schools it could be a great option.

[danirye]

I live in the route 2 corridor (lexington) and work in the financial district. In the morning it takes me about 55 minute to get in (I drive to alewife and take the T to south station and walk a block or so to my office). Coming home it takes 55-60 minutes. I work 9-5. So if you get off at Kendall your commute would be close to half of mine.

[cinnamoncox]

Sept 26, 2014 8:42:05 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Sept 26, 2014 8:09:16 GMT -5 cinnamoncox said:

Belmont, Arlington, maaaaybe Somerville (pricey, but I just saw the schools are in the top 15% in the state now so that's good!). I grew up there and went to parochial, because the public schools at that time were most certainly not in the top 15%, by a long shot. But it's coming up!

I didn't realize you grew up in the ville!
The schools aren't actually in the top 15%, this year they're in top 15% of Massachusetts School Districts for combined ELA and Math growth (which is still awesome!). A few of the schools also moved up to Level 1 schools, which is fantastic, and we're currently the top urban school district. Somerville schools have come a looong way and they're just getting better and better (thanks Mayor Curtatone!).

If you want surburban with good schools and decent proximity to Cambridge I'd look around the Rt 2 corridor (Arlington, Belmont, Lexington, Bedford, Concord).

Yup! I was born in a East Somerville and lived there until I was about 14. I still have lots of friends who stated there and one recently linked a story on Facebook and the heading said Somerville schools now in top 15%. I didn't read the full article. Her kids go there, so I'm sure the headline is all she needed read,

[House4Me]

Does anyone know if the drive from Hingham to Braintree Red Line would be really bad on a daily basis? Google Maps says approx 15 min but I wonder if there is a lot of traffic on Route 3 -- ? Were are talking around 6:30 am and returning around 6:30 pm?

[House4Me]

Nov 29, 2014 19:22:29 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Nov 29, 2014 16:57:22 GMT -5 House4Me said:

Does anyone know if the drive from Hingham to Braintree Red Line would be really bad on a daily basis? Google Maps says approx 15 min but I wonder if there is a lot of traffic on Route 3 -- ? Were are talking around 6:30 am and returning around 6:30 pm?

No way is Hingham to Braintree taking only 15 minutes at 6:30am. Its a short distance mile wise, but traffic on route 3 during rush hour is a mess. Even at 6:30, I'd say 45 mins minimum.

wow, that's great to know. Thank you!

[janegold]

Nov 29, 2014 19:22:29 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Nov 29, 2014 16:57:22 GMT -5 House4Me said:

Does anyone know if the drive from Hingham to Braintree Red Line would be really bad on a daily basis? Google Maps says approx 15 min but I wonder if there is a lot of traffic on Route 3 -- ? Were are talking around 6:30 am and returning around 6:30 pm?

No way is Hingham to Braintree taking only 15 minutes at 6:30am. Its a short distance mile wise, but traffic on route 3 during rush hour is a mess. Even at 6:30, I'd say 45 mins minimum.

You really think it's that bad even that early?  630 is really early!  I sometimes commute in from the Cape up Route 3 even a bit later than that and it's not terrible that early in my experience (though I certainly don't do that drive often).

[rikki]

Nov 30, 2014 19:38:41 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Nov 30, 2014 19:28:50 GMT -5 janegold said:

You really think it's that bad even that early?  630 is really early!  I sometimes commute in from the Cape up Route 3 even a bit later than that and it's not terrible that early in my experience (though I certainly don't do that drive often).

I haven't done it for 5 years, but I commuted from Hanover to the Braintree T for a spell (lived with my Dad for 2 months while househunting) and to get to my office in the FiDi by 8am I had to leave at 6:30am, and about half of that was driving to Braintree. Depending how close to Rte 3 you are in Hingham, I would say it was about the same (I was less than a mile from Rte 3). Closer in to Hingham Harbor, I think it'd be even longer with the commute to 3 via 228. Again, its been a bit since I've done the commute, but I believe rikki has said it takes her ~90 minutes to commute from that area to the southern tip of Dorchester.

Yep. It's awful. 5:45 is the latest you can leave to avoid traffic. 60 minutes for me is a great day, typically 75-90.

[LoveTrains]

Wow rikki that is awful! Ugh. I've been job hunting and am so reluctant to look in Boston because I know I can't handle a long commute.