Boston Bee's help me out! We might be moving from Seattle to Boston for DH's job. We'll will probably move in with my parents in western MA until things get settled. Then we will be on the hunt for a place to live in the greater Boston area. Can you recommend some family friendly charming towns within an hour commute to the city? We will rent at first but a town where real estate isn't outrageous would be great (i.e. homes under 400k). Thanks!
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Exciting! We live north of the city and there are some great towns around us :Reading, Andover, Melrose, Wakefield, Winchester (really $$ though). I'm not as familiar with other areas but there are a lot of MA bees so I hope they can help!
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Welcome to Boston! It would help to know how you will be commuting (car vs public transit) and where in the city your DH's job will be. Also, will you be using the public school system?
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I am partial to Arlington, but that is where my family is from
It is hard to find a house under $400k there though. My friend just bought a house in Wilmington for under $400k though. She commutes to Boston daily and it isn't bad at all. It is a little further out but I love Newburyport too (definitely within an hour commute). I have a few friends who live there and love it.
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Just walled you
Welcome to Boston! -
@bushelandapeck: @Sunshine1810: thanks for the town ideas. I will look into them
@catlady: Not sure where in the city his job will be, but he will probably do a combo of public transit and bike commuting. LO is only 14 mos so also not sure about schools yet. I am fine with public schools, as thats what I attended, but DH went to Catholic school so is more interested in private. I'm sure all the quaint towns with good public schools are super expensive?
I guess I should also throw out there that I work part time as pediatric nurse, so I suppose I should consider proximty to Boston Childrens as well.
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@Seattlemom: I work at Boston Children's as a SW
The commute isn't too bad but I drive because taking public transportation is longer for me than driving and I only work part time. Wall me if you have any questions!
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@bushelandapeck: awesome, thanks! even though I grew up two hours from Boston I left the area when I was 19, so I really don't know Boston that well. Especially when it comes to taking public transport vs driving places, etc.
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@Seattlemom: Yes, unfortunately Boston has gotten really expensive, especially the towns with excellent public schools. The good news is that even the "mediocre" school systems are really great compared to many other parts of the country. If you may need to get to Children's, that's in the Longwood area (there are lots of other hospitals in that area as well). The towns closest to there (Brookline, Newton) are $$$, but you could consider towns like Canton, Norwood, or Sharon and take the commuter rail in. In your price range, you could also look at Braintree and Quincy (both on the Red Line), Melrose, or Waltham if you want to be closer to the city. If you want further out, Maynard or Acton are nice (more rural). I'm more familiar with south and west of the city, so listen to the other ladies about the towns north of Boston.
Good luck and feel free to wall me!
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@Seattlemom: I grew up in NH and only moved to MA 5.5 years ago for my DH, so I totally know what you mean. I'm much more comfortable driving, just because it's what I have always done.
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@Seattlemom: exciting!! I am north of Boston and commute into the city on the train. Knowing where your DHs office is will be key! I could give some more info via your wall in you'd like! I've been living in & around Boston for 16 years now, but have been in the burbs north of the city for the past 5 years.
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I live West of the city and enjoy the area--westborough, northborough, southborough, are all commutable family friendly towns with less expensive homes--would be happy to share more info. Welcome to New England!!
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@Sunshine1810: I LOVE Newburyport too! We would have looked into living there but it's too far a commute and houses are crazy expensive!! Someday maybe!
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I'm north of Boston too (almost 17 years!) and have done the commuting into Boston thing. I would second everything that others have said, and would add that there are some great towns north of the city that are very commuter friendly, kid friendly and budget friendly. Beverly and Ipswich are right on the ocean and have direct rail access into downtown Boston. Danvers, Wakefield and Lynnfield are also great options that could work for you. You'd be able to get into downtown Boston in about an hour from any of these by train. They're definitely a little further out than some of the places other posters have mentioned, but I think you get a little more bang for your buck that way. Feel free to wall me for questions about specific towns/areas!
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@Seattlemom: woohoo!! I'm south west of Boston, near the towns that @catlady: mentioned. In this area the family friendly towns with ok schools that ate still affordable are Canton, Walpole, Dedham and Medfield. I work near Boston Children's and my husband works near Floating Hospital for Children, and we both can commute in via train just fine. We drive in though, since I have parking at work and 2 train tickets really adds up. I think renting in a place like Cambridge, Newton, or Brookline is a good start as you start to get to know the city and its suburbs. They're expensive towns but you can find reasonable rentals. Watertown and Somerville are also great and close and lots of rentals. If you're into the hipster vibe, there are great neighborhoods in Jamaica Plain and Roslindale (both parts of Boston). Good luck!! Welcome to Boston!!
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@catlady: Maynard & Actons sounds like good ideas, I would enjoy to be somewhere a little more rural.
@hellobeeboston: thanks! I will wall you when I get more specifics and if I have Q's as things move along.
@Sunshine1810: @hellobeeboston: Newburyport does sounds really nice! I would love being as close to ME as possible, as we have a family house up north.
@mossyslane: westborough, northborough, southborough sound interesting although I have visited Worcester and that wasn't my favorite town...are the 'borough's a bit more charming then Worcester?
@Rocker2014: Beverly and Ipswich on the ocean definitely sounds nice, I will research those towns. I don't mind being a little far out...we'll see if DH agrees. I will def wall you when I have more specific questions, thanks!
@mrs. wagon: south west of the city sounds nice, do you find your commute pretty tolerable? How long does it take you to drive in? It sure would be fun to rent in Jamaica Plain or Cambridge but I worry it would just be a big tease, since I know we won't be able to buy in those areas any time soon! But you're right could be a good way to get to know that city.
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@Seattlemom: the commute is fine! The thing is that if you're gonna be going in to Longwood or south station, taking a train that comes up from the south means less transfers. The trains that come from the north go in to north station, so it's a little longer and complicated. That's why we stuck to the south: my husband worked at Harvard Medical (longwood) and now he's at tufts (south station).
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@Seattlemom: Yes, they are absolutely a whole different entity. Worcester isn't my cup of tea, but I love where we are--lots of family farms, fun activities on the weekends, neighborhoods mixed in with large natural spaces, etc., plenty of good grocery stores, charming "downtown", etc...Happy to answer any more specific questions! Good luck!!
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I've also lived in Brighton and Newton and loved both of those experiences--it was just too $$$ and also too much traffic for my taste...
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@mossyslane: Oh ok, sounds quite lovely! Yeah, I dont think we could ever afford Newton and I do want a little bit more of a rural feel.
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Well, for what it's worth, my husband (who until recently commuted into Boston 5x per week) said that the commute is too long to be an ideal recommendation. He took the commuter rail, which lots of people do happily, but it did add a lot of time onto his day. He suggested areas like Newtonville or West Newton, where prices would be lower and you'd be closer...
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@mossyslane: ok thanks for getting his opinion as well!
It is hard to find a house under $400k there though. My friend just bought a house in Wilmington for under $400k though. She commutes to Boston daily and it isn't bad at all. It is a little further out but I love Newburyport too (definitely within an hour commute). I have a few friends who live there and love it.
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