We are moving to Boston next year. I have found a few towns I like based on what I have researched on line --- I won't be able to visit Boston till after the holidays. Can anyone share with me what the main difference is between north shore/south shore/ metro west? I hear people say north shore vs south shore is vastly different? Is it the people? Diversity? Religion?
There will be a daily commute to Kendall Square. It's preferred to take public transport, but willing to drive 15 min to the station to pick up the subway or commuter rail.
I'm looking for a town that is about 1 hour door to door but also with affordable house, good schools and a nice town center. So far the towns I *think* I like best are Hingham, Natick & Arlington -- but all are quite different location wise. I also like Milton and Needham but I might be priced out of those towns for a single family home. Then I found Canton caught my eye b/c they have a new housing development being built. But I can't find much info on Canton.
Post by LoveTrains on Nov 30, 2014 23:57:20 GMT -5
I don't even know if canton would be an hour door to door to Kendall square. Unless you drive to Quincy for red line?
I used to live on the north shore. I really liked it. I don't know much about metro west. What are you looking for in a town? What is your ideal price range for housing? Do you want something with a walkable down town or do you want a big suburban yard?
for kendall square, you would not want to commute from the south shore.
Arlington may be a good choice if you want closer.
Going further down rt 2 west will get you more house and land- littleton and acton have commuter rail, or drive to alewife. Both of these towns have great schools.
I think the North Shore would probably be awful for public transportation to/from Kendall. Kendall is on the red line and the North Shore commuter rail comes in to North Station, where there is no redline stop. From Metrowest or the South Shore, you could take the commuter rail into South Station and catch the red line there. Or I would suggest looking in to somewhere that's an easy drive/bus trip to the red line, either north or south of the city. Somewhere with easy access to Alewife would probably be the easiest option.
God, this discussion gives me anxiety about moving out to the 'burbs someday. Commuting from just about anywere outside of the city sounds like a nightmare.
If you'll be working in Cambridge, I'd rule out the South Shore. The commute is brutal, I thiink SS into the city is the worst commute.
Arlington would suit your needs. Also Lexington. My good friend lives in Natick and really likes it, commute would be doable. I'm from Brookline and used to commute to Kendall Square, it was pretty easy. Brookline meets all of your criteria except cost.
Those of you that live in Boston proper -- do you have kids? If so, how do you like the school lottery placement? I don't like the idea of my kid getting bused across town from our home for school. I think that's my major turn off for living in Boston.
As for budget, I don't want to go higher than 850k. I am amazed at the OLD homes that are for sale at even that price. I am looking for a newer home, like max 40 years old. I would love to find a town with a nice town center. I would love to walk to the town but that's not crucial. What I don't want are homes that are on 1 acre + where it could be harder for my kid to walk next door, etc to play with their friends. I also don't want to live on top of my neighbor in a 5,000 sq ft lot either. I think 1/3 to 1/2 acre would be enough for us. Schools and commute time are crucial. I think commute time is the top priority.
I have read that once you are in the Kendall/Cambridge area it can be nauseating with so many pedestrians/bicyclists… I have no perspective b/c I haven't seen it yet. How reliable is the red line? I hear mixed things. As for the commuter line, do all the trains run at the same speed? I hear some are faster and I don't know if that's distance/stop wise?
Where are you coming from? That might help give us some perspective. I can't think of any neighborhood in Boston proper with SFHs and lots bigger than 5000 sq feet. I actually live in providence (in the city limits) in a SFH on a 4500 sq ft lot. I have a single car width driveway, a detached garage, and my 1500 sq ft house was built in 1940. It is walkable to transit and a shopping/restaurant area. Obviously you don't want to live where I do, but my neighborhood reminds me of parts of Arlington.
It sounds like you don't want an urban feel. I love the hubbub of Kendall and have never heard anyone call it nauseating. But it's busy, so if you aren't used to that, you might not like it.
Also this is an area with older housing stock. It is what it is. The closer to the city, the more unlikely to get something built in the last 40 years. You will find lots of stuff that is older. People tear down old homes in places like Newton and build new ones. Idk if you can get something like that with your budget in Newton.
I'm not sure what you mean about the train. There is the subway which everyone calls the T. The red line is faster than the green line IMO the green line operates above ground, like a streetcar/trolley with lots of stops as it heads out through Allston etc.
Then there is the commuter rail. The line that stops in acton and Waltham has a stop in porter square before heading into north station. Trains from metro west and the south go to south station. Trains from the north go to north station. With a Kendall sq commute you do not want to go to north station as its annoying to get to Kendall.
I'll just add that a lot size of 1/2 acre seems really, really big to me. I am sure it's available in places like belmont. Maybe Lincoln or wayland or Sudbury, too?
What about Concord or Lexington? Good schools and could drive to alewife and take the red line in.
Those of you that live in Boston proper -- do you have kids? If so, how do you like the school lottery placement? I don't like the idea of my kid getting bused across town from our home for school. I think that's my major turn off for living in Boston.
No, I don't have kids yet and our plan is probably to move before our future child starts kindergarten.
I agree with LoveTrains that Belmont, Sudbury, Lexington and Concord all might fit the bill for what you're looking for (although housing stock in your budget will probably be limited in any of those except maybe Sudbury). Concord in particular has a wonderful town center. Maybe Winchester, too. And Needham and Newton in MetroWest - could commute into South Station from either.
I think with a budget of $850, you should be able to find something meeting your requirements in: Arlington Bedford Lexington? Newton Belmont? Concord Lincoln
You may have to decide over commute time or land. You could get a really nice house for 600k -700k in the area of Harvard, Littleton, Acton. You could take the commuter rail into Porter square and connect to red line, or drive in to alewife. like others said commuting can really be tough unless you can work flex hours and/or telecommute some days.
you could get a sfh in arlington, waltham or belmont but it may not have the land, sq footage and ammenities you want.
I live much further west down rt 2 (leominster area) and the COL gets cheaper the more you go west.
Unfortunately, I don't think you'll find much in Belmont or Lexington for under $850K. You may have some luck in Winchester, which is very nice. I'm not all that familiar with Needham. Sudbury is nice, but I think that commute may be tough.
I know it's so difficult to narrow it down. Perhaps when you come visit you can look at some of the towns and see what you like best and start there?
I think Tillie's suggestion of actually seeing it out here is super helpful.
But is it really impossible to find something decent in Lexington for under $850? Jesus. I have a friend that just bought a lovely house in lexington (well, two summers ago). I thought they paid around $680k but I just looked up the sale price in zillow and it was $701K. I think it might have been multiple offers because it was listed for $678K.
Nearby similar sales (within the last year) range from $680-$900K, with most falling under the budget of $850K. Now perhaps it isn't the most desirable neighborhood in Lexington? idk.
Unfortunately, I don't think you'll find much in Belmont or Lexington for under $850K. You may have some luck in Winchester, which is very nice. I'm not all that familiar with Needham. Sudbury is nice, but I think that commute may be tough.
I know it's so difficult to narrow it down. Perhaps when you come visit you can look at some of the towns and see what you like best and start there?
I think Tillie's suggestion of actually seeing it out here is super helpful.
But is it really impossible to find something decent in Lexington for under $850? Jesus. I have a friend that just bought a lovely house in lexington (well, two summers ago). I thought they paid around $680k but I just looked up the sale price in zillow and it was $701K. I think it might have been multiple offers because it was listed for $678K.
Nearby similar sales (within the last year) range from $680-$900K, with most falling under the budget of $850K. Now perhaps it isn't the most desirable neighborhood in Lexington? idk.
It's not impossible at all, but housing stock is much more limited in that price range in those towns. It's pretty crazy.
I live in Lexington (which has a great downtown) and I commute to the financial district every day via the red line (I get off at the south station stop). Although I could take 1 of 2 busses or a Lexington direct shuttle to get to Alewife, I drive to the parking garage every day. Door to door, leaving at approximately 8:05 (probably the worst time to drive - but I don't leave until my kindergartener gets on his school bus), it usually takes me 55-60 minutes to get to my office (1-2 blocks from south station) - longer if the traffic is unusually heavy. Kendall is 4 stops before south station so it is definitely doable for you. Housing inventory is low right now - but you should be able to find something under $850k; you just have to be quick and ready to submit an offer when you find a house you like. Good luck!
Thanks for all the valuable feedback. I will probably be asking more questions in the near future, especially after I finally get out to the area to visit!
Where are you moving from? Boston is a city but most of it isn't the super busy that you get in NYC. I've never heard anyone refer to Cambridge as nauseating and a lot of the residential areas of Boston are quiet. I live downtown and you can hear a pin drop at night from my apartment. I would recommend coming to visit and getting a feel for the areas that you're thinking about. Boston is an older city so unless you're going far out, you're not looking at a lot of construction over the past 40 years.
Those of you that live in Boston proper -- do you have kids? If so, how do you like the school lottery placement? I don't like the idea of my kid getting bused across town from our home for school. I think that's my major turn off for living in Boston.
Yes, we have 2.5 year old twins. We send them to a private preschool and will most likely keep them in private school unless we move to Brookline. Even if they are in private school, their school will most likely not be in the city proper so they will ride a bus. Or car service that some schools have for pick up. LOL. There is only 1 public elementary schools I would consider sending them to and one other potential but not likely.
We have friends with about your budget that are looking at Melrose. It has 2-3 commuter stops to south Station which is on the red line. I think the schools are good but not outstanding. Winchester is another town they looked in.
Those of you that live in Boston proper -- do you have kids? If so, how do you like the school lottery placement? I don't like the idea of my kid getting bused across town from our home for school. I think that's my major turn off for living in Boston.
Yes, we have 2.5 year old twins. We send them to a private preschool and will most likely keep them in private school unless we move to Brookline. Even if they are in private school, their school will most likely not be in the city proper so they will ride a bus. Or car service that some schools have for pick up. LOL. There is only 1 public elementary schools I would consider sending them to and one other potential but not likely.
We have friends with about your budget that are looking at Melrose. It has 2-3 commuter stops to south Station which is on the red line. I think the schools are good but not outstanding. Winchester is another town they looked in.
Good Luck!
I believe Melrose is on the Haverhill line and comes into North Station (not South Station). IMO, that would not be that great of a T ride unless where she is working is more towards Lechmere rather than Kendall Sq.
Those of you that live in Boston proper -- do you have kids? If so, how do you like the school lottery placement? I don't like the idea of my kid getting bused across town from our home for school. I think that's my major turn off for living in Boston.
Yes, we have 2.5 year old twins. We send them to a private preschool and will most likely keep them in private school unless we move to Brookline. Even if they are in private school, their school will most likely not be in the city proper so they will ride a bus. Or car service that some schools have for pick up. LOL. There is only 1 public elementary schools I would consider sending them to and one other potential but not likely.
We have friends with about your budget that are looking at Melrose. It has 2-3 commuter stops to south Station which is on the red line. I think the schools are good but not outstanding. Winchester is another town they looked in.
Good Luck!
Melrose is basically the last stop on the orange line. Melrose schools are fine but nothing to write home about. With an 850k budget I would def look elsewhere like Winchester, Lexington, Reading and Bedford. Winchester is right next to Medford so that is very close to Cambridge. Lexington and Reading are more north but still close and near the commuter line.
Post by cinnamoncox on Dec 10, 2014 13:43:08 GMT -5
Without kids, Charlestown is nice and you won't have trouble getting t Kendall. If you have kids, private is really IMO necessary. We moved out if Charlestown when our oldest was in 1st, and we were "lucky" that we got into one of the schools in Charlestown vs being bussed all over creation. $850k could get you a decent place there.
Otherwise Melrose, reading is another good choice but t me it's pretty far from the city, although there is a commuter rail stop. Good luck!
Both very nice towns. Needham has better ranking schools then Natick but both are strong systems. Natick is probably more convenient to Boston since it's right off the mass pike but Needham is fairly close by, just south of Natick off 95. I would imagine that Needham is more expensive than Natick just based on their reputations.
Are you Jewish perhaps? Needham has a very large and strong Jewish population, which is a huge draw for many families.
Post by shopgirl07 on Dec 11, 2014 17:15:33 GMT -5
Yes, Natick and Needham are both nice. My best friend lives in Natick and really likes it. Last year they sold their 4 bedrm, 3000ish sq ft house for $800k and upgraded to a similar sized house but a little higher end in amenities and neighborhood for just under $1m.