Hi Frank
I live in Préverenges, which is a couple of miles from Ecublens. Here's my thoughts on some of the questions you ask:
Transport:
Transport around Ecublens is good, because it's very close to EPFL (one of the Lausanne universities) which has a lot of bus and metro links to the surrounding areas. Depending where in Ecublens your wife is working, it won't be more than 10-15 mins walk at the most from EPFL to wherever, even if she can't find a bus that will drop her off any closer. Cycling is also a very good way to get about here. I cycle into Morges twice a week for my French class; from Préverenges it's about 4 km and takes me 10-15 mins because I go slowly and look at the beautiful view across the lake to the Alps.
Here's a link to a map of the transport links in the Lausanne/ Morges area, so you can see where the buses go:
http://www.mobilis-vaud.ch/page_atta...e-zones-08.pdf
And then you can use the SBB timetable to look up journey times and changes:
http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm
Housing:
For this area, for that budget, I'd say it's certain that you're looking at apartments. But this isn't as bad as it sounds. For starters, the photos on Homegate often look like tower-block ghettos, whereas the reality is more like 4-6 apartment blocks set in nice landscaping/ communal gardens and surrounded by fields. (Perhaps stay away from Renens, though, as this area is much more industrial-feeling than a lot of the others with much less green space.)
The apartments are quite spacious inside and the more modern ones are very light and airy and usually come with a large balcony for sitting out - you could have plants in large pots on this! And don't forget that the vast majority of people live in apartments here, so unlike some other countries it's a perfectly standard option for even professional people. (We came from the UK, where the norm for affluent/middle-class/professional/ insert social descriptor of your choice is a 4-bedroom detached house - it is very different here.)
Apartments are an excellent choice for helping your daughter to integrate, especially if she will be attending the local school. Kids LOVE communal gardens and play areas with other kids on tap, and it will greatly help her to quickly make friends and pick up the language if she can regularly just pop down the stairs and potter about outside on a scooter with the other kids. In a house, however, there's less spontaneity and playdates have to be more arranged, which is initally hard to do.
To get the 'village' feel, look for somewhere with a little shop you can walk to regularly; I've found it very reassuring and friendly to regularly see the same faces and be recognised as a local in the shop itself. Here in Préverenges, we have a bakers/grocers, butchers, hairdressers, doctors, dentists, etc - my husband has a car for getting to work, but I don't bother as the bus links are great and supermarkets deliver the groceries.
Schools:
You also mention about putting your daughter in local school. I can put in a very good mention for the Préverenges school, where my 8 and 4 yr olds go, and where there are also a number of other English-speaking or non-French speaking children being happily supported in their integration. (I've written tons about this on the Forum if you have a look on some of my other posts). I have friends with children in the primary in St Sulpice who are also very happy with their school, although St Sulpice may be out of your housing budget as it's quite pricey. Your daughter's school will almost certainly be within walking distance, as she will attend whichever is the closest; there is no option to select a school here. But I've not heard of a 'bad' one around here. And all the teachers I've met so far (5, with year changes and job-sharing across 2 kids) have been totally dedicated, enthusiastic and caring, and in no way fazed by having non-French speakers in their class.
Hope this helps - we only moved over in March, and I well remember the 'millions of questions' stage!
kodokan