Work in Boston, what is best suburb to live in?

[New England is my home]

You might not have even considered moving way to the north.

New Hampshire has a few very nice, cheap, decent homes with wonderful school systems. And they're right on I-93 so about a 45 to 60 minute commute to Boston.

I would recomend Derry, NH. Wonderful Suburb of Boston, very friendly neighbors and the school system is one of the best in the state (Says a lot because NH school systerms are great). Also, Derry has a wonderful wonderful high school that is known throughout the country. Hampstead and chester both go there too. I would recomend any town in that area with the exception of Windham.

Massachusetts is beginning to go downhill in a lot of areas... not to be mean to people (not in all instances) but Taxachusetts is becoming more difficult to live in with money being an issue.

Rhode Island has wonderful friendly people too but the School systems won't be much better than FL.

Hope this helps!

[holden125]

Originally Posted by New England is my home

New Hampshire has a few very nice, cheap, decent homes with wonderful school systems. And they're right on I-93 so about a 45 to 60 minute commute to Boston.


Massachusetts is beginning to go downhill in a lot of areas... not to be mean to people (not in all instances) but Taxachusetts is becoming more difficult to live in with money being an issue.

I like New Hampshire but those towns are 45 to 60 minutes on 93 without rush hour traffic. Driving to work every morning there's no way it would take that little time. And the person is going to the Back Bay, which would mean in-city traffic and major parking issues (if they're looking to pay under $1400 for housing I doubt they'd like paying $350-400 for a parking spot in Boston). In that case the best option is to take the T from somewhere in between. You could get a train at a station like Anderson-Woburn that has ample parking but then you have to get to the Back Bay from North Station. The train portion alone would be 45 minutes and the 93 portion adds more than 15 minutes, so it would be hard to keep it under an hour.

With regard to the tax thing, I really feel the need to respond. While it has gotten hard for families to make it in eastern Mass. without significant financial resources, the "Taxachusetts" label is so outdated it's laughable. If people are having problems making ends meet in Mass. it's because of high housing prices and not because of particularly high taxes. Mass. does not compare to what I currently pay in New York City, and was actually 32nd of 50 in tax burden in a recent study, with lower state and local taxes than such left-wing places as Wyoming, Arkansas and Kansas. While the overall tax burden is lower in NH, this is not representative of the experience people would face in southern NH towns like Derry, where property taxes are very high to make up for the lack of an income tax. Even in New Hampshire people realize that ultimately you need some government revenue if you're going to have schools, roads, and police. Some people up there just sometimes like to pretend they have no taxes and snicker at Massachusetts.

In any event, someone working in the Back Bay will pay Mass. income taxes regardless of where they live.

CNNMoney.com: Taxes by state 2005, by rate

[GTA_BOS]

Is Canton a 'cool' suburb, with good sccool standards and decent family life. Ride to south station/back bay is under 30 mins with decent house prices.
Any opinion please??

Does anyone know what kind of nationalities live in these town? any one from Canada... as I am also moving from Toronto

[lorilou]

Originally Posted by BruinsGirl

Franklin, Ashland, Natik (there are many rentals there), Canton

I agree; check out Franklin...nice town for newcomers. Also, Mansfield. Both towns have trains into Back Bay. Good luck and welcome!

[accidentalsuccess]

I didn't have time to read the whole thread but Jamaica Plain would be your best bet for dog-friendly, close to back bay (back bay is a stop on the orange line), and "space to roam".

Look down by stonybrook and garden street orange line stops and the Jamaica pond for the nicer areas of that town (off centre street after the hard turn).

I love the area but live in beacon hill now (which is also highly recommended...but pricier).

[kaioak36]

Try Hingham. There is a new apartment complex called Avalon. Excellent schools, commuter boat and a dog park up the street from the apartment complex. One of the nicest towns on the South Shore (Cohasset and Duxbury are nicer but Hingham is a close 3rd).

[kaioak36]

To say that Massachusetts is going downhill tells me "junior member" doesn't have a clue. Massachusetts is one of the nicest states in the country. We have some of the best hospitals and universities in the world. We also have a high-tech, financial services sector. Sure taxes are higher but the quality of life in Mass is a lot better than New Hampshire anyday!

Rhode Island is a very nice state as well. Plenty of good schools down there!

[DreamworksSKG]

Winchester is a good town with easy commute---into the city via commuter rail --

Arlington, Wakefield, Melrose, Medford, Waltham, Watertown, Belmont, Quincy, and Salem are all good too :-)

Most have commuter rail access. or "T" access.

[DreamworksSKG]

Also take a look at Concord, Sharon, Needham, Natick, Norwood, Mansfield, Dedham, Weymouth, Scituate, Reading, Andover, Wilmington, Ipswich, Beverly and Manchester By the Sea.

I'd say out of these Concord, Sharon, Needham, Natick, Norwood, Dedham, Weymouth, Wilmington, and Beverly would be the best.

[CityGirl52]

Take it from me, move to Mass. You will kick yourself if you move to southern NH. I know because I'm living here for the past 20 years and want to move back to Mass. as soon as I can! It equals out with the taxes, don't let the NH people fool you with it being cheaper. It's all about the same when it comes right down to it, trust me. What Mass pays to register a car and all that, we luck out in NH that way, but they get them big time when the state property tax bill comes out, that's when NH gets wacked. I'm seeing the difference in my research on where to live in Mass. it's actually just about the same, so it doesn't matter.

The BIG huge issue is you want to be closer to where you or your husband work, that's the bottom line. I can't take this commute for another minute. I'd rather be down around Mass in one of the north shore suburb's 1/2 hour away or less from where I work. Give me that ANY day rather than living further away, ANY day. It's NOT easy in the winter months, whether you take the train or drive all the way in, it's a pain, and there's no ifs ands or buts about it.

You also want to make sure you're near the best hospitals & doctors with this decision! I ended up finding out I needed hip replacement surgery. It took me a good year, but I ended up switching health care providers from NH to Mass. so I could have this procedure done at either the MGH or NE Baptist. Two of the very best, top places to have this issue taken care of. There was NO way I was going to have this done in the state of NH, NOT after what my poor wonderful neighbor who's in agony to this very day has been going thru for the past 2 years and there's no way I am putting up with that nonsense, no way hoozay. So the very best surgeons are right in the City of Boston. Always remember that one. People have and will travel from all around the country and the world to go to these top hospitals and they're right in downtown Boston. Oh, trust me when I tell you this one! You will not regret moving to the state of Massachusetts when it comes to your health issues! Like I said, the very best thing that you can do for yourself is have good health care and to be close to the top hospitals and doctors and you'll have them once you're in the state OR near the state any way, whatever your decision may be! Believe me when I say this to you, they're right in Massachusetts and there's NO doubt about it when it comes to that issue!

You know, you're going to really enjoy living on the North Shore if you pick one of their towns! Yet, I also lived on the south shore before too. Well, it was the town of Sharon, that was definitely not a bad commute at all in to Boston every day when I worked there. South Station's commuter rail is really convenient, especially now with having Back Bay station to get to on top of that, it wasn't there when I lived down there, it would have been great when I worked at the Pru back then, I used to have to take the subway after the commuter rail, but now it's so much easier, it's only one stop to the Back Bay and better yet, it's before the South Station stop, how convenient can you get!

Good luck wherever you decide to move to! YES you're making the right decison, I just hope you can find something that's pet friendly. Like I said to you before, I'd be worrying about that myself!

Hope it works out soon for you....