Arlington
THE GOODS A great compromise for urbanites who hear, reluctantly, the siren call of the suburbs but don't want to forsake the enchantments of the city. Arlington offers good public schools, good restaurants - choices range from Nepalese to Argentine - that don't require a long drive, and some semblance of nightlife with two theaters. For those who don't want to wean themselves from public transportation, the MBTA has bus service down Massachusetts Avenue to Harvard Square, and much of East Arlington is within walking distance of the Red Line final stop at Alewife Station.
PROS Arlington is a more affordable alternative to most of the communities that surround it, including Cambridge, Belmont, Lexington, and Winchester. Its housing stock tends to be older and within reach of many first-time buyers. Still, the local real estate market has managed to stay strong even as it has softened elsewhere, so houses can sell faster here than elsewhere in Greater Boston.
It's an active town that through community e-mail lists - a general one for residents and another for parents - approximates the appeal of a smaller town. Here, residents sell outgrown highchairs and baby clothes, debate town politics, and recommend hair salons and house painters. For walkers, stroller-pushers, runners, and bikers, the Minuteman Bikeway stretches through Arlington on its path to Bedford. And beyond the restaurants that line busy Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington is home to the old-fashioned Capitol Theatre, where guests can eat hand-dipped ice cream as they watch movies, and The Regent Theatre, which hosts concerts, musicals, and shows for children.
CONS Despite its congregation of families, Arlington schools still don't receive the same accolades as those in some neighboring suburbs. The John Q.A. Brackett Elementary School in Arlington Heights is highly regarded, but housing near it is more expensive and harder to find than elsewhere in town. And with the urban amenities come urban problems. The healthy business district along Massachusetts Avenue produces significant traffic congestion, especially during rush hour. Arlington is also much more densely populated than nearby suburbs, which means smaller house lots with smaller yards.
KATHLEEN BURGE 