Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Well, they're in the metro area, on the Boston commuter rail network, and all of them except Ayer (which is an hour and 3 minutes) are within an hour of downtown Boston by train. They literally meet every single one of the OP's criteria, so I'm not sure what the problem is?
I guess, but it seems outside of the spirit of the post. He did say an hour, but there’s a difference between an hour subway commute and an hour commuter rail commute that costs $23 round-trip.
I guess, but it seems outside of the spirit of the post. He did say an hour, but there’s a difference between an hour subway commute and an hour commuter rail commute that costs $23 round-trip.
I don't think it's outside the spirit of anything. It's the reality of the Boston area. There are plenty of charming, walkable neighborhoods and towns in and immediately surrounding Boston. If you're looking at $500k or less with the same criteria, those are your options. They exist. Yes, they're farther out, but they meet all the criteria and the commuter rail fares reflect the distance (most regular users have monthly passes). And of those mentioned, only Ayer and Middleborough are what I'd label as being more "distant" suburbs. Framingham, Franklin, and Bridgewater, are all perfectly normal, functional suburbs that aren't out of reach for someone with a $500k budget.
Middleborough. It has a decent walkable town center in a safe town and the commuter rail station is within walking distance. In a few years, the commuter rail station will be even closer to the town center as it's being relocated as part of the South Coast Rail project. .
Do you have a few favorites? Or can you break them down in terms of price, proximity and quality?
Quote:
Originally Posted by gladhands
I guess, but it seems outside of the spirit of the post. He did say an hour, but there’s a difference between an hour subway commute and an hour commuter rail commute that costs $23 round-trip.
Yeah you both make sense. It is kinda pushing it on time and cost, but I always like to be inclusive rather than exclusive in these threads. ie, I'd much rather a borderline recommendation be included and let the OP, or whomever else might be reading, make the call if it works or not.
Shaker Heights OH is another one that comes to mind.
A stretch that also comes to mind are parts of the Eggertsville portion of the town of Amherst outside of Buffalo. Some streets are within a 10 or so minute walk to the University Station stop by the University at Buffalo, which is in that general area. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/95+C...42.9545111!3e2
Sleeper Pick: Bensenville, IL. It rarely comes up because it isn't a top school disctict, but it has a cute "downtown". It's a 50min Metra ($4 fare) to Union Station, and houses are downright CHEAP. https://www.redfin.com/IL/Bensenvill.../home/17547898
Lagrange Illinois (suburban Chicago) has a Metra stop in its Downtown area and is known for it's cute housing stock. I am not sure about the budget.
I know suburban St. Louis (if you are looking for a smaller large city type place). Clayton Missouri is lacking affordable housing but does have 2 MetroLink stops, fantastic schools and a very sterile and corporate feel to its Downtown area. Maplewood Missouri is still safe, affordable with good schools. Many homes are under $200k. Nice strip DT. Suburban University City shares the Loop with St. Louis and has a pretty good housing stock but the schools are not as good.
Alexandria Virginia and Silver Springs Maryland are few of many suburban DC towns that has vibrant districts and very close metro access.
Dallas northern suburbs have many TODs that may work as well.
Mt. Lebanon was a bit newer of a suburb - mostly built out from 1920 to 1960 rather than 1910 to 1930 - so you don't find the same sort of quality older homes, with the housing stock being more neo-colonial than American foursquare. Lots of stone houses from the 1930s, but they aren't always in the most convenient walking areas.
I live in Newton, MA and really no town in Massachusetts should be anywhere in a discussion where affordable is mentioned. Our expectations for what we think is cheap is way too affected by the ridiculous prices things cost here. You think a place like Revere is cheap then you check out safe suburbs in states like Ohio or West Virginia and your mind gets blown.
I was just going to say that about the Denver suburbs. There are walkable suburbs with train connections to downtown; e.g. Arvada and Littleton. "Affordable" is in the eye of the beholder. You need to be prepared to pay at least $500,000 for a house around here.
I live in Newton, MA and really no town in Massachusetts should be anywhere in a discussion where affordable is mentioned. Our expectations for what we think is cheap is way too affected by the ridiculous prices things cost here. You think a place like Revere is cheap then you check out safe suburbs in states like Ohio or West Virginia and your mind gets blown.
I saw this post and thought I would google my late aunts house in Melrose Massachusetts, 4 bedroom 2 bath, 2168 sqft. built in 1910, and the price ranges from various sites were from $754,885 to $806,574 with property taxes of $6300/year.
You could buy 2 McMansions where I live in Ohio for that.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
