I realize that this is a travel site - not a relocation site - however I just read a post from nonigrace who sounded like she is or may have been a Bostonian.
My son will be working in Burlington and is needing to figure out what neighborhood/area would be a good choice to live - without a huge commute - and still an area that would be condusive for a young single professional (aged 27 - PhD) -to meet other young singles and have fun.
Thank you - to anyone who has tips.
Pat

First part of any discussion about living near Boston is cost - either for rental or owning property. Burlington is on Route 3 and Routes 128/95 (can't even begin to explain road system in Boston - it would scare him away) so car commute to should be OK from a lot of places - as long as he does not mind traffic. A commute of 10 miles on these roads could take 30-45 minutes during rush hour - so keep that in mind.

Burlington is a family-oriented suburb - not the best place to meet singles, as are many of the immediate surrounding towns. Some younger people I work with like Somerville or Cambridge as towns with more active social scenes - and either would be a car commute in opposite direction of most traffic.

Important starting point questions would be city or suburb?; easy commute to work or easy commute to fun?; how much can he afford to pay for rent? (and I would definitely rent first, even if he could afford buying a house or condo).

(You will likely get a response from Anonymous as well - another frequent Boston-area poster - that will likely have good info as well)

Arlington or Cambridge. Both very expensive, but singles live there (mostly in apartments). He will probably have to drive to work - but almost everyone there who drives has a hellish commute. You get used to it though.

I would highly recommend Waltham or Watertown. Waltham borders Burlington and Watertown borders Boston on the northwest side. Both would be very decent commutes and have a high concentration of singles his age.

I'd recommend he go to www.craigslist.org choose Boston and then the housing forum. This group answers questions like this all the time and seems to have a good range of experience and advice.

I work in Burlington and as a general statement would tell him that the closer to Boston he is the better for meeting those requirements. He will probably need a car since Burlington doesn't have a train/subway link but there are bus routes from Waltham and Arlington. He would also be doing a reverse commute and the traffic should be better. I commute by car from the border of Medford/Arlington and it takes 20 min.

Perhaps looking in Arlington or near Tufts Univ. (Medford) could be a starting point.

K.

Whoops, I meant there are bus routes from the neighboring cities of Arlington and Woburn (not Waltham). There are buses from Boston and Waltham to Burlington but I don't think any sane person would put themselves through that.

K.

Thank you for your replies and ideas!!
I just found this site yesterday and have never done web communications until now. This is the best!
Answers to questions, I think are:
Shorter distance to fun - and restaurants within walking distance if possible - might as well shoot for the moon - may not be possible, I realize.
Currently he lives in a pretty much gutted and completely rebuilt area in Atlanta - so new wonderful places - restaurants, some shops and Borders, are all around him - and he walks to work - so life has been ideal in that respect - and life will obviously be diferent in Boston. Never having lived in "snow country", the commute is a concern - and a long commute would be crummy. Things need to be weighed.
Thank you!!!!!

Didn't reply to the cost question - He will be renting and I'm guessing he'll OK $1000 per mo. at least.
He's been told to look for a roommate - but unless he didn't have to share a bath, I don't think he would do that.
This is his first "permanent" job after all these years of schooling, so returning to college type living will probably not be his choice.
Thank you again.
Pat

I would really have him zero in on Waltham then. The commute would be very easy and he could find a 1 bdrm for $1000, check out Craigslist.org. The Moody St area has lots of bars and restaurants and Waltham is also home to Bentley College. He could try it for the first year and see how it goes. I know people who live in Boston and commute to Burlington so it's something he could investigate further once he gets here.