Madison Ave, North Cambridge

First off, calling this road an avenue is absurd. A one way street with a car or two coming down in any given 5 minute period, it borders one of the parking lots for Grace Construction. While there are drawbacks to this - traffic really picks up in the morning and when work lets out and there are mildly intrusive alarm sirens that go off in the early evening every month or two - the company does give everyone in the neighborhood a parking spot to use during non-business hours if they want it, so there is never any trouble finding parking for yourself or guests. You can also cut across the lot and reach the Alewife T stop in about 5 minutes via a well lit bike path. The area is amazingly quiet considering that the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Mass Ave is a hop and a skip away. The residents are a diverse group that include both owners and renters; they range from young couples to families to retirees.