Hello Everyone...need info on moving to Boston (Quincy, Newton: houses, condo)

[DD0506]

Hi guys!! (yes this is another "I NEED HELP " thread on moving...lol)

Well I have been reading these threads for the past few weeks now, and I have been trying to consume all the information that has been given to Boston newcomers, but I feel as if I need to start my own thread. I would appreciate it if you could help me with a few questions I may have about moving to Boston...

(lil info.... late twenties couple moving to Boston from Chicago...new job is located in Franklin...want to rent but no higher than 1800 and are looking for newly renovated places...we do not mind commuting, but nothing too ridiculous.)

Any suggestions on what cities??


THANK YOU!!

[holden125]

What's your idea of ridiculous for a commute? And what kind of environment are you looking for, as far as activities or nightlife? It's hard to think of anything within easy distance of Franklin that has much of anything for a couple your age to do. I am more of a city person, but the thing in Boston is that with rare exceptions there is just not much going on for younger people once you go more than 20 minutes from Boston itself. The other towns roll up the sidewalks at 8 pm.

I don't know about newly renovated. There are some renovated places in older houses, but I imagine there are more new apartments the farther you go from Boston into the woodsy towns.

There are, otherwise, a number of nice towns nearby, including Franklin itself, but it would help to get a sense of what you want in a home.

[CaseyB]

You should be able to find a condo or apartment to rent in Franklin or an adjacent town for that price. Franklin is a suburban town, don"t worry - very safe. There are lots of stores/restaurants within the area. There's a train to Boston and Providence, RI is less than a half hour drive.

[DD0506]

We do not want to commute more than an hour, but we also want to stay closer to the city.

I was wondering how is Quincy or Braintree or Westborough...in regards to activity and safety?? I saw a place called Ridge at Blue Hills...any info on that place??

[holden125]

Originally Posted by DD0506

We do not want to commute more than an hour, but we also want to stay closer to the city.

I was wondering how is Quincy or Braintree or Westborough...in regards to activity and safety?? I saw a place called Ridge at Blue Hills...any info on that place??

I'm not familiar with the particular complex.

Quincy and Braintree are close to the city but there is not a tremendous amount of activity there. Both are somewhat blue collar. You could take the Red line to Boston from each. It's about 45 mins to Franklin with no traffic. I'm not sure how the traffic is going that way. Traffic south of Boston is generally rough but it might be not as bad going from Quincy to Franklin. South Shore people could offer better advice on that. Personally I wouldn't worry about safety in any of those places all that much, but I'm a guy well over 6 feet and I've lived in large cities (Boston, NYC, DC, Paris) for pretty much all of the last 15 years.

Westborough doesn't have a tremendous amount going on and it is not that close to the city. It is closer to Franklin. Another possibility is the Natick area. It's about 35 mins to Franklin through the back roads, again without traffic. There are a lot of stores and malls and some restaurants, etc. on Rt. 9. There is a commuter train to Boston (about 40 mins but not all that frequent on the weekends) or it's a 25 minute drive on the Mass Pike into town. As far as young people and nightlife, the area just gets really sleepy really fast.

[DD0506]

Any info on Mansfield..Canton..or South Boston??

We dont want to live directly in the city, but we also do not want to be in boofoo Egypt. I need some commotion around me...

[happywifey]

South Boston is actually a neighborhood in Boston. Would be great for you guys (for what you said you want) - but I'm not so sure you'd want to commute from South Boston to Franklin. That's quite a commute.

Canton is pretty family oriented. It's not really a place I'd think has a great night life. Maybe you could try Norwood???? Still not a place that is "happening" but probably a step up from Canton. I don't know anything about Mansfield.

I don't even know what to recommend to you because Franklin is like a suburb of Rhode Island! We did look at some places in Millis and Medway - which are down that way...but they were just too boonie for us. Pretty - but you get a lot of land with your purchase!!

[Bostonian08]

I kinda agree with Happy Wifey. You won't find much "commotion" anywhere on that corridor south of Boston along 95 or 495. IMHO, the urban vitality of Boston suddenly and abruptly ends at the border between Boston and Milton. To me, all those little towns are pretty dead - Canton, Milton, Walpole, all boring. The cool little towns outside Boston tend to be North and along the Cape.

When you say "South Boston" you probably mean the southern part of Boston, right? The Southern section of Boston is made up of a hodgepodge of neighborhoods of varying types and quality. Readville is cute, Lower Mills, West Roxbury are too. I suggest these because they are easy on to 128 about 30 minutes from Franklin and have the "commotion". They are part of the city of Boston, but you'd hardly know it. In fact, you might never believe it. Caveat is Boston Public Schools, which can be very good (my son is in it), but you need to be hands on.

Unfortunately, there just isn't a lot of culture and style south of the border. Another possibility would be the western suburbs. Newton fits you bill real well, then you can hit 128 south to F-lin. Another idea much farther out is Milford a cute little town two towns away from Franklin but 45 minutes from Boston.

Lastly as wifey said, Franklin is really close to RI. Providence is fairly sweet. Check out the Providence East Side. It's really nice. One other oasis of southern Mass in Attleboro. It's got a zoo, a little town square, is 15 minutes from PVD, 35 Minutes to BOS, and on the commuter rail - stress free ride to either city.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=downcity&js=1∋=20&ei=utf-8&y=Search&xargs=0&pstart=1&b=1

Lastly, the towns along the South Shore vary between decent to neato. Quincy is fine. If you're willing to travel a little farther, you can be a beach bum in Nantasket or Hull. 45 minutes to Franklin no traffic jams. With jams, well - woe to the vanquished. But with 511, that should never happen.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by Bostonian08

I kinda agree with Happy Wifey. You won't find much "commotion" anywhere on that corridor south of Boston along 95 or 495. IMHO, the urban vitality of Boston suddenly and abruptly ends at the border between Boston and Milton. To me, all those little towns are pretty dead - Canton, Milton, Walpole, all boring. The cool little towns outside Boston tend to be North and along the Cape.

When you say "South Boston" you probably mean the southern part of Boston, right? The Southern section of Boston is made up of a hodgepodge of neighborhoods of varying types and quality. Readville is cute, Lower Mills, West Roxbury are too. I suggest these because they are easy on to 128 about 30 minutes from Franklin and have the "commotion". They are part of the city of Boston, but you'd hardly know it. In fact, you might never believe it. Caveat is Boston Public Schools, which can be very good (my son is in it), but you need to be hands on.

I agree there's not much nightlife once you get out of Boston. I'm not sure what towns to the north are much better, but it's clear the towns south are sleepy at night. Great for a young family with kids but not so much for a couple still in their 20's looking for some kind of action. I'm not sure West Roxbury really has any commotion except some fast paced traffic on the VFW Pkwy.

I took "South Boston" to mean "South Boston" and not the southern part of Boston as in Mattapan, Readville, Hyde Park, etc. Maybe that was wrong. South Boston is urban and has some fun, but it's about 15-20 mins farther from Franklin than Quincy. You're looking at an hour with no backups whatsoever, which is unlikely.

Happy Wifey has a point--it actually occured to me you might want to live in Providence. But Providence is no Boston and is probably at least 35-40 mins plus traffic time to Franklin anyway.

[DD0506]

Originally Posted by holden125

I took "South Boston" to mean "South Boston" and not the southern part of Boston as in Mattapan, Readville, Hyde Park, etc. Maybe that was wrong. South Boston is urban and has some fun, but it's about 15-20 mins farther from Franklin than Quincy. You're looking at an hour with no backups whatsoever, which is unlikely.

I was referring to "South Boston" by 90... my concern is traffic times? I was wondering if I had to be at work by 9am in Franklin what time would I have to leave??