Cell coverage could vary street to street... I'm pretty sure they offer a free month to try it out.

Yes, though the $25/month *might* include a $10 bundle discount, I'm not sure.

Edit: The way it works is that, when you start the service, they ship you a white cube thing that contains a cellular modem + wifi router. You just plug that into a wall outlet and it connects to the internet and creates a wifi network for you.

There's also an ethernet output on it, if you want to use your own wifi router instead.

A couple months ago, I switched from Xfinity to Verizon 5g home internet. I am surprised at how solid it has been, for what is essentially cellular service. I haven't had any issues with 2 people WFH on video calls at the same time. And I've also tested out streaming 3 HD movies to 3 separate devices (TVs & laptops, not phones) at once and it kept up no problem.

Depending on signal strength at your home YMMV, but it is worth checking out.

$25 / month guaranteed rate for 10 years. Seems almost too good to be true.

I had the same reaction the first couple times I drove down there, but I've since realized it isn't really any different from a normal curb. It just feels like they narrowed the street. I don't think it'll be a problem for drivers that are "unfamiliar" with Brattle, but they might take some getting used to for folks that drive in the area regularly and aren't paying attention. I'd rather see those drivers plow into a concrete curb than take out a cyclist.

Yes, for our oldest, we had proximity preference for our first choice and ended up not getting any of our top 3. It happens. He ended up all the way across town, which was a massive inconvenience, especially because we didn't want to subject a 5 year old to a 45+ minute bus ride. Other than that, he had a fine experience. (In a lot of ways, that school turned out to be a better environment for him, and we've always wondered if we should have left him there. So no matter how much research you do, you really won't ever be sure.)

He was high on the waitlist and he moved to our 1st choice early in his 2nd year. Waitlist slots always open up, because families (esp in West Cambridge) frequently leave CPS at mid-elementary age, either because 1) they feel like they need a bigger house and move to the 'burbs, or 2) they are rich and move their kids to private school to keep them away from the poors. :(

OP, I know this feels really stressful, because I've lived through it. But, again, all the CPS elementaries are good environments for learning and social development, so try not to sweat it too much.

Yep, I'm expecting it to be a big investment. Which is why I'd love to hear what has worked / hasn't worked for others in Cambridge before taking the plunge. Specific brands to consider or avoid, from folks with first hand experience, would be great.

Heh, being on our own water was great a few years back when every other municipality in greater Boston had a boil order.

We have a lightweight filter that we use for drinking, but honestly I don't mind drinking it unfiltered. It is just wreaking havoc on my appliances.

My kids all went to the same CPD elementary and had vastly different experiences based on the teacher as well as the kids in their respective cohort. So it is a leap of faith...your kid's experience is even less in your control than it appears!

All CPD elementaries are good, especially the ones in your proximity. So I'd just go with the one that is easiest to get to, especially if one is walkable. Walking your young elementary kid to school is a great start to the day, and when they're older, they can get back & forth on their own. Both are surprisingly wonderful quality-of-life perks.

Also getting one of your 3 picks is far from a sure thing, so have a sense of your backups. When we didn't get a top choice, we were given 48 hours to pick from one of 3 other schools that we knew nothing about. That was super stressful. You don't need to preemptively tour them, but at least have an idea of where they all are and what makes each school distinct.